Ministry of Industry and Information Technology: 4G users reached 1.296 billion, accounting for 80.9%

Recently, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released the economic operation of the communications industry from January to October 2020. As of the end of October, the number of 4G users was 1.296 billion, a year-on-year increase of 2.1%. 4G users accounted for 80.9% of the total number of mobile phone users, an increase of 0.1% from the end of September.

Statistics show that as of the end of October, the total number of mobile phone users of the three basic telecommunications companies reached 1.6 billion, a year-on-year increase of 0.1%. Among them, the number of 4G users was 1.296 billion, a year-on-year increase of 2.1%, a net increase of 13.92 million compared with the end of last year; 4G users accounted for 80.9% of the total number of mobile phone users, an increase of 0.1% compared with the end of September.

Figure: Proportion of total 4G users at the end of October 2019-2020

At the same time, mobile Internet traffic has grown rapidly, with the DOU value reaching a new high in October. From January to October, the cumulative mobile Internet traffic reached 133.8 billion GB, a year-on-year increase of 34%, and the growth rate increased by 0.5% compared with January to September. Among them, the traffic through mobile Internet access reached 127 billion GB, a year-on-year increase of 27.6%, accounting for 94.9% of the total mobile Internet traffic. In October, the average mobile Internet access traffic (DOU) per household reached 11.46 GB/household, which was 2.87 GB/household and 1.19 GB/household higher than the average values ​​in December last year and this year.

Figure: Cumulative mobile Internet access traffic and growth rate from January to October 2019-2020

In addition, the growth rate of mobile Internet access traffic in the western region leads, and the gap in DOU values ​​between provinces widens. From January to October, the mobile Internet access traffic in the eastern, central, western and northeastern regions reached 56.33 billion, 29.12 billion, 40.84 billion and 7.51 billion GB, respectively, up 29.5%, 35.6%, 40.7% and 28.1% year-on-year, and the growth rate in the western region continues to lead the country. In October, the average mobile Internet access traffic (DOU) per household in Tibet, Yunnan, Qinghai, Guizhou and Ningxia exceeded 15GB/household; the difference between the highest and lowest DOU values ​​in each province was 11.36GB/household, and the difference expanded by 4.53GB/household compared with the same period last year.

The decline in mobile phone call volume continued to narrow, and the growth rate of mobile SMS business revenue continued to pick up. From January to October, the duration of mobile phone outgoing calls reached 1.86 trillion minutes, a year-on-year decrease of 7%, and the decline narrowed by 0.6% compared with January to September; the duration of fixed-line outgoing calls reached 85.2 billion minutes, a year-on-year decrease of 15.6%, and the decline narrowed by 0.3% compared with January to September. From January to October, the national mobile SMS business volume increased by 18.6% year-on-year, and the growth rate fell by 0.5% compared with January to September; the mobile SMS business revenue increased by 1.5% year-on-year, and the growth rate increased by 0.7% compared with January to September.

Figure: Growth rate of mobile phone users and call duration from January to October 2019 to 2020

Figure: Year-on-year growth in mobile SMS business volume and revenue from January to October 2019-2020