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HONG KONG : China Mobile is keen to expand overseas in the telecoms sector, and will continue to look for investment opportunities.
The mobile operator said this as it booked a 2 per cent rise in full-year earnings for 2009.
China Mobile also said that it is hoping to reach a deal with Apple over the sale of the iPhone soon.
The world's biggest mobile phone operator by subscribers has ended 2009 on a positive note, booking a modest increase in earnings.
Full-year net profit edged up by 2 per cent to almost US$17 billion.
This was slightly above market expectations.
But it is a sharp drop from the 30 per cent increase in earnings the previous year, amid increasing competition.
China Mobile said the bottomline was supported by an expansion into the rural market and the launch of new products, such as handsets with Internet access.
Wang Jianzhou, chairman, China Mobile, said: "The development of the mobile Internet market...has been speedy. Our mobile market, launched last year, now boasts 32,000 individual developers, more than 2 million downloads and 8,600 applications."
China Mobile added 65 million new subscribers in 2009 - taking its base to more than half a billion.
Just earlier this month, it agreed to pay US$5.8 billion for a 20 per cent stake in Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, in a bid to offer bank payment services via cellphones.
China Mobile said it is also keen to seek investment opportunities in the telecoms sector overseas.
Meanwhile, it is in talks with Apple about selling the popular iPhone on the Chinese mainland.
Executives said they hope to reach a deal soon.
Looking ahead, the company believes growing domestic consumption in China will boost demand for the telecommunications sector. It plans to expand its 3G services and tap into new business areas in the mobile Internet market.
The board has recommended a final dividend of HK$1.458 per share - a payout ratio of 43 per cent.
The company plans to keep its 2010 dividend payout ratio unchanged to keep funds for future development. - CNA/ms
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