“Our new report outlines how China’s mobile industry has been a key driver of economic growth, inclusion and modernisation – creating a new generation of digital consumers and transforming industry and society,” said Mats Granryd, Director General of the GSMA.

“After spending billions over the last decade deploying 4G networks to all corners of the country, Chinese mobile operators are now set to invest a further RMB401 billion ($58 billion) over the next two years to prepare for and begin 5G rollouts, laying the groundwork for China to become one of the world’s leading 5G markets.”

The report reveals that China is the largest mobile market in the world, home to almost 1.2 billion unique mobile subscribers at the end of 2018, representing 82 per cent of the country’s population.

In addition, More than two thirds (69 per cent) of mobile connections in China3 are smartphones, with smartphone adoption expected to reach 88 per cent of connections by 2025.