picture
China’s telecom industry recorded a 2.3% decline in total revenue to 377.8 billion yuan ($53.4 billion) in the first quarter amid the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
Total subscribers of mobile services declined by 11.8 million in the first quarter from a year ago, reflecting a decline in personal mobility during the outbreak. However, the number of subscribers started rebounding in March as businesses began to resume, the ministry said.
Despite the revenue drop, major carriers reported rising revenues from fixed-line, data and mobile internet services.
China Mobile, the largest wireless carrier, said its first-quarter subscribers decreased by 4 million, while revenues from devices and equipment sales declined 34.9%.
Related: Huawei’s Growth Evaporates After Coronavirus Compounds U.S. Woes
Contact reporter Han Wei (weihan@caixin.com) and editor Bob Simison (bobsimison@caixin.com)
Sign in with Google
Sign in with Facebook
Sign in with 财新