As of 31-March-2013, China Mobile was serving 726.31 million customers, up by about 16 million customers over the past three months. However, ARPU fell to RMB 63 (US$10.19) compared to RMB 71 during the preceding quarter. The number of 3G customers reached 114 million. The carrier said it continues to observe and increasing trend of “one customer with multiple SIM cards.”
The company reported Q1 2013 revenue of RMB134.7 billion (US$21.6 billion), up by 5.7% over the same period of last year. EBITDA came in at RMB61.2 billion, up by 0.8% over the same period of last year.
China Mobile said Q1 was characterized by “difficulties and challenges arising from the increasing mobile penetration rate, unprecedentedly intense market competition and more apparent substitution of
traditional communication business by new technologies and new businesses.
Wireless data traffic in Q1 2013 increased by 1.6 times compared to the same period of last year.
