23 January 2007

BEIJING (XFN-ASIA) - Mobile phone users in China totalled 461.08 mln at the end of 2006, up 17.2 pct, research firm Global Insight said in a report.

'Mobile subscriber growth remains robust, primarily driven by additions in less-penetrated central and western regions,' Global Insight said.

The number of mobile subscribers signed up to Hong Kong-listed China Mobile Ltd
stood at 443.6 mln at end-2006, which accounted for 96 pct of the country's total mobile subscriber base. The remaining 4 pct of the market was shared by the unlisted units of their mainland parents.