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Wired Telecommunications in China - Market Research Report (2015-2030)

Millie Walker Millie Walker Beijing, China Last Updated: July 2025 6011

Revenue

$18.9bn

2025

$17.6bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

198k

Businesses

4

Wages

$X.Xbn

Wired Telecommunications in China industry analysis

The Wired Telecommunications industry in China is part of the telecommunication services sector. Industry revenue is expected to decline at an annualized 3.0% over the five years through 2024. This trend includes the decrease of 4.2% in the current year. The industry has a high level of concentration. The three major players in the industry are China Telecom, China Unicom, and China Mobile, with a joint market share of 99.1% in 2024.
Mobile telecommunications have rapidly developed over the past decades with both 3G and 4G mobile technology, allowing more consumers to substitute fixed-line telecommunication services with mobile ones. Additionally, 5G mobile technology started commercial application in 2019. Over the past five years to 2024, the number of mobile phone users has increased by an annualized rate of 2.1% to 1.8 billion. However, the number of fixed-line phone users has decreased by an annualized rate of 2.9% to 165.2 million over the same period.
The changing habits of users have reduced the industry demand. Modern users prioritize mobility, favoring mobile phones that allow them to stay connected on the go. In addition, the popularity of instant messaging apps, like WeChat and social media platforms, has transformed communication. Users now prefer texting or messaging over making voice calls, which has diminished the demand of fixed-line phones.
Industry revenue is forecast to decrease continuously at an annualized 5.4% over the five years to 2029. The rapid growth of mobile communication options and shift in consumer preferences will divert consumers away from fixed-line services. Improving service quality will remain the key to the industry development. And the industry will provide customized services for specific markets like corporate users.

Trends and Insights

  • The rapid development of mobile telecommunication has negative effects on the industry. Mobile telecommunication technologies, like 4G and 5G, have enabled higher data speeds and better connectivity.
  • Fixed-line local call services are the largest product segment of the industry. While the overall user base is decreasing, local call services still attract a core group of users, particularly in specific demographics like businesses.
  • The industry products are mainly concentrated in East China. The industry concentration in these areas is primarily due to the gathering of enterprises, and high demand for the industry products.
  • The industry has a high concentration level. The three major players in the industry are China Telecom, China Unicom, and China Mobile, with a joint market share of 99.1% in 2024.
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 3.0 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $18.9bn in 2025.

Trends and Insights

The rapid development of mobile telecommunication has negative effects on the industry

  • Mobile telecommunication technologies, like 4G and 5G, have enabled higher data speeds and better connectivity.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Wired Telecommunications in China
Revenue (2015-2030)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2025-2030)

Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

The industry revenue will continue to decrease

  • Industry revenue is forecast to decrease at an annualized 5.4% over the five years to 2029.

Biggest companies in the Wired Telecommunications in China

Company
Market Share (%)
2023
Revenue ($m)
2023
China Telecom Corporation Limited
10,505.4
China United Network Communications Limited
6,095.0
China Mobile Limited
1,873.9

To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Wired Telecommunications in China
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Fixed-line local call services, Fixed-line long-distance call services and Other services. Fixed-line local call services is the largest segment of the Wired Telecommunications in China.

Trends and Insights

Fixed-line local call services are the largest product segment of the industry

  • Fixed-line local call services are the industry largest product segment and are expected to account for 57.0% of total industry revenue in 2024.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The Wired Telecommunications industry in China comprises establishments providing voice, data, image, multimedia and information services through fixed-line telephone networks. Telecommunication services provided by dedicated telephone networks within some specialized industries and institutions, such as power generation, police, oil, aviation and railways, are not included in this industry. In addition, the industry does not include content providers of value-added services.

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in the Wired Telecommunications industry in China include Fixed-line local call services, Fixed-line long-distance call services and Other services.

Companies

Companies covered in the Wired Telecommunications industry in China include China Telecom Corporation Limited, China United Network Communications Limited and China Mobile Limited.

Purchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

Related terms covered in the Wired Telecommunications industry in China include pop, 5g, 4g and 3g.

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The rapid development of mobile telecommunication has negative effects on the industry. Mobile telecommunication technologies, like 4G and 5G, have enabled higher data speeds...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Fixed-line local call services are the largest product segment of the industry. While the overall user base is decreasing, local call services still attract a core group of u...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2025
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2025
  • Major market segmentation in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The industry products are mainly concentrated in East China. The industry concentration in these areas is primarily due to the gathering of enterprises, and high demand for t...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2025
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

The industry has a high concentration level. The three major players in the industry are China Telecom, China Unicom, and China Mobile, with a joint market share of 99.1% in ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Stated-owned companies dominate the market. State-owned capital dominates the industry to guarantee the stable wired telecommunications service supply and safety.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
  • Overview of China Telecom Corporation Limited's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of China United Network Communications Limited's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of China Mobile Limited's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for China Telecom Corporation Limited, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for China United Network Communications Limited, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for China Mobile Limited, and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The industry has a moderate regulation level. The industry has regulatory requirements, including obtaining licenses and adhering to other regulations.

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

The industry profit margin has decreased. The industry profit margin has decreased over the past five years due to the reducing average service prices and rising construction...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Average Wage (2015-2030)
  • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
  • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2015-2030)
  • IVA (2015-2030)
  • Establishments (2015-2030)
  • Enterprises (2015-2030)
  • Employment (2015-2030)
  • Exports (2015-2030)
  • Imports (2015-2030)
  • Wages (2015-2030)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Wired Telecommunications industry in China in 2025?

The market size of the Wired Telecommunications industry in China is $18.9bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Wired Telecommunications industry in China in 2025?

There are 4 businesses in the Wired Telecommunications industry in China, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.0 % between 2020 and 2025.

How may import tariffs affect the Wired Telecommunications industry in China?

The Wired Telecommunications industry in China is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

How may export tariffs affect the Wired Telecommunications industry in China?

The Wired Telecommunications industry in China is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

Has the Wired Telecommunications industry in China grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Wired Telecommunications industry in China has been declining at a CAGR of 3.0 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Wired Telecommunications industry in China over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Wired Telecommunications industry in China is expected to decline.

What are the biggest companies in the Wired Telecommunications industry in China?

The biggest companies operating in the Wired Telecommunications industry in China are China Telecom Corporation Limited, China United Network Communications Limited and China Mobile Limited

What does the Wired Telecommunications industry in China include?

Fixed-line local call services and Fixed-line long-distance call services are part of the Wired Telecommunications industry in China.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Wired Telecommunications industry in China?

The company holding the most market share in the Wired Telecommunications industry in China is China Telecom Corporation Limited.

How competitive is the Wired Telecommunications industry in China?

The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Wired Telecommunications industry in China.

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in China include:

  • National Bureau of Statistics China
  • General Administration of Customs
  • People’s Bank of China

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.

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