According to the latest "2025 Statistical Bulletin on the Communications Industry" released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, China's total number of mobile phone users reached 1.827 billion by the end of 2025, with a net increase of 37.25 million for the year. The penetration rate stood at 130 devices per 100 people, an increase of 2.9 devices per 100 people compared to the end of the previous year.
Among them, the number of 5G mobile phone users in China reached 1.204 billion, accounting for 65.9% of all mobile phone users, a rise of 9.2 percentage points from the end of the previous year. The net increase for the year was 190 million users.
Behind the rapid expansion of 5G users is the continuous strengthening of network infrastructure. By the end of 2025, the total number of 5G base stations nationwide reached 4.838 million, accounting for 37.6% of all mobile phone base stations. The average number of 5G base stations per 10,000 people was 34.4, significantly exceeding the target set in the 14th Five-Year Plan. Meanwhile, the number of base stations equipped with 5G RedCap access capabilities reached 2.064 million, accounting for 42.7% of all 5G base stations. 5G-A coverage extended to over 330 cities, and pilot deployments of 10-gigabit optical networks were successfully carried out in the first batch of 168 residential communities, factories, and industrial parks.
In 2025, mobile internet access traffic reached 395.8 billion GB, a year-on-year increase of 17.3%. Among this, 5G mobile data traffic grew by 37.6% year-on-year, accounting for nearly 70% of total mobile internet traffic.
With the coordinated development of 5G and gigabit optical networks under the "dual gigabit" initiative, 5G is accelerating its integration into the real economy. Currently, there are over 23,000 "5G + Industrial Internet" projects, and 75,000 5G industry virtual private networks have been established, with 19,000 added this year. These networks cover 91 major categories of the national economy, serving as an important engine for advancing new industrialization and high-quality development.