(Associated Press via NewsEdge) China Mobile, the listed unit of the country's largest mobile operator by subscribers, said its net profit in the first nine months rose 25% from the previous year on strong subscriber growth.
The company's net profit was 46.13 billion yuan ($5.8 billion) in the nine months ended September 30, compared with 36.87 billion yuan ($4.7 billion) in the same period last year.
Operating revenue was 212.69 billion yuan ($26.9 billion), up 21% from 176.07 billion yuan ($22.3 billion) in the year-earlier period.
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization for the period rose 26% to 121.19 billion yuan ($15.3 billion) from 96.03 billion yuan ($12.1 billion).
China Mobile said the strong growth in subscriber numbers boosted its net profit.
'Business in the eastern regions continued to grow, and the momentum of growth in the central and western regions and in the rural market remained robust,' it said in a statement.
At the end of September, China Mobile had 287.15 million subscribers, up from 273.79 million at the end of June.
In September alone, the company added 4.47 million customers, up from 4.42 million new subscribers in August.
The carrier said 4.18 million of its new customers in September were prepaid subscribers, while 292,000 were contract customers.
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