China's mobile phone users increased by 9.25 million in the first two months this year, bringing the total to 344.07 million at the end of February, the Ministry of Information Industry reported.

Over the same period, the country's fixed-line users increased by 7.23 million to 319.68 million, according to the ministry's data.

China's telecommunications services market is dominated by four major State-owned companies. China Mobile Communications Corp. and China United Telecommunications Corp. are mobile network operators, while China Telecommunications Corp. and China Netcom Corp. provide fixed-line services.

Revenue for postal and telecommunication services rose 7.6 percent year on year to 97.64 billion yuan (US$11.76 billion) in the January-February period, the ministry said.

Telecom revenue contributed the bulk of the total, or 88.63 billion yuan, up 7.9 percent year on year. Postal revenue was up 5.4 percent at 9.01 billion yuan.

(Shenzhen Daily March 28, 2005)