China's Telecom Revenue Falls 2.1% YoY in H1 2026, 5G User Penetration Nears 70%
In the first half of 2026, China's telecom business revenue totaled RMB 887.3 billion, down 2.1% year on year, while telecom business volume at constant 2025 prices rose 7.7%. Mobile phone users reached 1.844 billion, with 5G users at 1.288 billion, representing 69.9% of total users. The number of 5G base stations hit 5.102 million, accounting for 39.1% of all mobile base stations.
In the first half of 2026, telecom business revenue totaled RMB 887.3 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 2.1%. Telecom business volume calculated at constant 2025 prices increased 7.7% year on year.
The number of mobile phone users grew steadily. As of the end of June, the total number of mobile phone users of the three major telecom operators and China Broadcasting Network reached 1.844 billion, a net increase of 17.04 million from the end of 2025. Among them, 5G mobile phone users reached 1.288 billion, a net increase of 84.34 million from the end of 2025, accounting for 69.9% of mobile phone users.
The construction of 5G networks continued to deepen. As of the end of June, the total number of 5G base stations reached 5.102 million, a net increase of 263,000 from the end of 2025, accounting for 39.1% of the total mobile base stations, up 0.9 percentage points from the first quarter.
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