China’s Telecom and Pay-TV Revenue Set for Steady Growth, Fueled by 5G and IoT Innovations: 2030 Forecast

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Revenues generated from telecommunications and pay-TV services in China are set to witness a moderate compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.3% from 2025 to 2030. This growth can be primarily attributed to innovative developments in mobile data and fixed broadband sectors.
Telecommunications Revenue Forecast
While the revenues from mobile voice services are expected to experience a downward trend during this period, mobile data service revenues are projected to rise. The declining trend in mobile voice services can be linked to mobile operators packaging voice minutes along with their 5G data plans, a shift in consumer preferences towards Over the Top (OTT) and internet-based communication applications, and a decrease in average revenue per user (ARPU) for voice services.
On the other hand, the revenues from mobile data services are projected to increase at a CAGR of 4.2%, driven by a constant rise in 5G subscriptions and an ensuing boost in mobile data ARPUs. This growth in mobile data revenue is also expected to benefit from an increase in mobile internet usage and the widespread use of digital and video streaming services facilitated by premium mobile data offerings from mobile network operators (MNOs).
Subscriptions to machine-to-machine (M2M) and Internet of Things (IoT) services are anticipated to consistently grow between 2025 and 2030, driven by advancements in 5G network infrastructure, smart city projects, industrial automation, and the focus of telecom companies and the government on new M2M/IoT applications.
Fixed Communication and Pay-TV Services
In the fixed communication services sector, revenues from fixed voice services are likely to decrease due to a drop in circuit-switched subscriptions and lower fixed voice ARPU. Conversely, the revenues from fixed broadband services are anticipated to increase, fueled by a growing number of users adopting higher-ARPU fiber broadband services and enhancements in gigabit networks nationwide.
While the growth in cable TV and IPTV segments is projected to be minimal, the total revenue from pay-TV services in China is expected to experience a slight decline due to falling ARPU levels as consumers increasingly turn towards OTT and on-demand streaming platforms.
Questions & Answers
Q.What are the factors driving the growth of telecommunications revenues in China?
What are the factors driving the growth of telecommunications revenues in China?
The growth of telecommunications revenues in China is largely propelled by advancements in mobile data and fixed broadband sectors, alongside a steady rise in 5G subscriptions and mobile data ARPUs.
Q.How is the fixed communication services sector expected to perform between 2025 and 2030?
How is the fixed communication services sector expected to perform between 2025 and 2030?
While revenues from fixed voice services are forecasted to decrease, revenues from fixed broadband services are predicted to grow, driven by an increasing number of users adopting higher-ARPU fiber broadband services and nationwide gigabit network enhancements.
Q.What is the projected trend for the pay-TV services in China?
What is the projected trend for the pay-TV services in China?
The total revenue from pay-TV services in China is expected to experience a slight decline due to falling ARPU levels as consumers increasingly shift towards OTT and on-demand streaming platforms.