The number of new mobile-phone subscribers has jumped sharply higher, surprising many analysts and underlining the continuing robustness of the industry amid the tough economic climate.
The latest government figures show that 122,572 new users signed up for services during November.
That is more than double the number that signed up in October and well above the average monthly growth for last year as a whole.
Also unusual was the split between the types of technologies customers chose.
Most of the growth for most of last year was in the newer networks using PCS technology.
In November, growth was split almost equally between PCS and the older established GSM, D-amps and CDMA technologies.
The figures reflect the market before the latest round of savage price-cutting, which took place in late December and early this month.