Telecom services grow 9.3 pct in H1

China's telecommunications sector registered an increase of total business volume by 9.3 percent year on year in the first half of 2025, with a total revenue of 905.5 billion yuan, said an official of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on Friday.

As of the end of June, China's 5G base stations totaled 4.55 million, with 1.118 billion 5G mobile phone users, representing a penetration rate exceeding 79 percent.

The country also registered 30.22 million ports capable of supporting gigabit internet services, serving 226 million gigabit broadband users.

And pilot deployments of 10-gigabit-per-second (10Gbps) optical networks have been smoothly launched in the first batch of 168 communities, factories, and industrial parks.

"Consumer demand for digital services continued to grow, with mobile internet traffic seeing double-digit increases for six consecutive months. Integrated applications of 5G have now penetrated 86 out of 97 major categories of the national economy. We have launched more than 18,500 '5G plus Industrial Internet' projects," said Xie Cun, director of the department of information and communications development of the ministry, at a press conference in Beijing.

Xie also highlighted the country's efforts in expanding opening-up in the value-added telecom services, noting 40 foreign-invested companies have already received approval to participate in trial operations.

He added that the number of foreign-invested telecom enterprises in China has exceeded 2,600, representing a 27-percent increase year on year.

Telecom services grow 9.3 pct in H1

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Wednesday that Seoul firmly adheres to the one-China principle, in comments made ahead of his upcoming state visit to China.

The remarks were made in an interview with China Media Group (CMG). The visit is scheduled for Jan 4–7.

"The consensus reached between governments of the Republic of Korea and China when diplomatic relations were established continues to be the fundamental principle governing our relations, and its effectiveness remains steadfast. I want to clearly state that the ROK has always adhered to the one-China principle. Maintaining peace and stability in regional matters, including in Northeast Asia and concerning the Taiwan issue, holds significant importance to us," said Lee.

"The foundational relationship between the ROK and China was established on a very principled and fundamental basis from the beginning. It is clear that the ROK government has always adhered to this position and has never wavered from it. I believe that the sound development of ROK-China relations depends on both sides fully respecting each other's core interests and being mutually tolerant of each other's positions. In this context, we will, as always, uphold the one-China principle as the Taiwan issue is China's most fundamental concern," he said.

ROK president reiterates firm adherence to one-China principle