How 4G devices in China are transforming the world’s largest mobile market
Please sign in or register for a free public account to access this report.
Smartphones are on track to account for two-thirds of mobile connections in China by the end of this year, according to a new study published today by GSMA Intelligence. The new study finds that smartphone adoption in the country had reached 62% of the 1.3 billion mobile connections registered at the end of Q1 2015, above the average level in Europe (55%). However, while unique mobile subscriber penetration in China has yet to surpass 50%, growth in smartphone connections has slowed in recent quarters as the market matures, suggesting that the majority of current smartphone sales are now being driven by replacements rather than new connections.
The report also provides analysis of the number of smartphone models available in the Chinese market and retail pricing trends. It reveals that the rapid adoption of smartphones across urban areas in China has been fuelled by the increasing popularity of both international device brands, such as Apple’s iPhone, and devices produced by a growing number of domestic smartphone vendors.
4G models are now the primary driver of smartphone sales, which is accelerating China’s migration from 3G to 4G networks. The study predicts there will not be any new non-4G models released by Chinese smartphone vendors after 2016, with many having taken this step already. It is forecast that 4G connections in China will reach 1 billion by 2020, representing about two-thirds of the market by this point, up from 100 million (8%) at the end of 2014.
Related research
Extended reality: developing a successful B2C strategy requires work in five important areas
Extended reality (XR) technology, which comprises augmented reality, mixed reality and virtual reality, has been around for a while, but it still suffers from a low adoption rate. Only 5% of consumers on average own an XR headset, according to the latest GSMA Intelligence consumer survey, conducted across 12 major mobile markets worldwide. In this report, we discuss the five key areas that XR companies need to focus on for developing a successful consumer strategy, which include identifying the prime consumer segments to target and widening consumer access to XR experiences.
Mobile phone circularity: growing momentum, with financial incentives a driving force
The latest GSMA consumer survey asked more than 10,000 consumers about their views on smartphone repairability, reuse and recycling, refurbished smartphones and the importance of sustainability when buying a new mobile phone. The survey findings have important implications for operators, mobile phone OEMs and other mobile ecosystem players in terms of positioning, potential sales benefits and the wider promotion of circularity schemes.
Deutsche Telekom: Leaning into 5G and genAI with the T Phone
Operator strategies continue to evolve in the digital era as the telecoms industry seeks to capture new growth opportunities in the consumer and enterprise markets. GSMA Intelligence's operator case studies provide a concise and consistent way to shine a light on and analyse operators' strategies and business models, as well as how they are launching new services. This edition highlights Deutsche Telekom's strategy to aid the transition to 5G through the availability of affordable 5G smartphones.
Authors
How to access this report
Annual subscription: Subscribe to our research modules for comprehensive access to more than 200 reports per year.
Enquire about subscriptionContact our research team
Get in touch with us to find out more about our research topics and analysis.
Contact our research teamMedia
To cite our research, please see our citation policy in our Terms of Use, or contact our Media team for more information.
Learn moreRelated research
Extended reality: developing a successful B2C strategy requires work in five important areas
Extended reality (XR) technology, which comprises augmented reality, mixed reality and virtual reality, has been around for a while, but it still suffers from a low adoption rate. Only 5% of consumers on average own an XR headset, according to the latest GSMA Intelligence consumer survey, conducted across 12 major mobile markets worldwide. In this report, we discuss the five key areas that XR companies need to focus on for developing a successful consumer strategy, which include identifying the prime consumer segments to target and widening consumer access to XR experiences.
Mobile phone circularity: growing momentum, with financial incentives a driving force
The latest GSMA consumer survey asked more than 10,000 consumers about their views on smartphone repairability, reuse and recycling, refurbished smartphones and the importance of sustainability when buying a new mobile phone. The survey findings have important implications for operators, mobile phone OEMs and other mobile ecosystem players in terms of positioning, potential sales benefits and the wider promotion of circularity schemes.
Deutsche Telekom: Leaning into 5G and genAI with the T Phone
Operator strategies continue to evolve in the digital era as the telecoms industry seeks to capture new growth opportunities in the consumer and enterprise markets. GSMA Intelligence's operator case studies provide a concise and consistent way to shine a light on and analyse operators' strategies and business models, as well as how they are launching new services. This edition highlights Deutsche Telekom's strategy to aid the transition to 5G through the availability of affordable 5G smartphones.
- 200 reports a year
- 50 million data points
- Over 350 metrics