As per a recent research, around 80 % of people in China will have mobile phones by 2020 but tapping the rural regions in the country will be the key to achieve this mark.
A billion of Chinese population or about 80% of people are estimated to have mobile phone access by 2020, making it the number one market in China. As per China Centre for Economic Research at Peking University, cell phone subscribers total around 440 Million in China or about 34 % of total population.
At present, South Korea is the country having 80% of population possessing mobile phones. The Centre forecasts that mobile phone market in China will beat European, American & Japanese market to become world's largest mobile phone market, as key players in the industry are optimistic that high-speed 3G mobile networks will soon be allowed in China, unleashing over US$ 10 Billion investment in equipments & fueling development in the growing mobile industry in China.
"The improvement in network construction will lead to more and more 3G subscribers and in next 5-6 years the 3G subscribers will be about 40% of the overall market. By 2010, China's mobile subscribers will increase to about 640 Million and it is expected that the subscriber base will be about 446.59 Million in the year 2006", as per the report "China Telecom Sector Analysis (2006-2007)" published by RNCOS.
China recorded 437.5 Million cell phone subscribers & 368 Million fixed-line subscribers in August 2006, as per official figures. However, the growth levels are deteriorating as penetration rates reach saturation in major cities & firms struggle to tap the low-paying consumers in small cities.
Tapping the rural section of population is necessary in order to maintain the present growth levels and to meet the estimated 'one billion' subscriber mark.
Related Market Research Reports:
European Mobile Market Scenario to 2012
American Mobile Handset Market Analysis (2006-2009)
Mobile Handset Industry Asia (2004-2009)
