China Mobile<0941><CHL>, the country's largest telecom operator, said it added 5.12 million subscribers in January, compared with the 4.24 million added in December, sources reported.

The telecom operator said its total user base hit 527.40 million at the end of last month.

The number of its 3G subscribers totaled 3.90 million last month.

China Mobile is expected to build around 80,000 TD base stations this year and its 3G network will cover all Chinese cities. It has invested over RMB 80 billion in the construction of 3G network in the country.

China's information technology regulator said that the number of 3G users in China will increase to 60 million by the end of 2010 from the estimated 15 million at the end of 2009, boosted by the development of integrated circuit and network convergence.

 source:chinaknowledge