China Telecom, operator of the mainland's largest fixed-line network, is expected to outline its 4G mobile network expansion plans when it reports first-half earnings on Wednesday.
The Beijing-based telecommunications services company, which is also the mainland's third-ranked wireless network operator, has managed to bolster 3G mobile user growth since becoming the second domestic carrier partner for Apple's iPhone after China Unicom.
The total number of mobile subscribers on China Telecom's network reached 174.50 million at the end of June, 87.33 million of whom are much-coveted 3G data users.
In a research note, Barclays said China Telecom was "executing well". It forecast the operator would post a net profit of 9.91 billion yuan (HK$12.46 billion) in the first six months of the year, up from 8.814 billion yuan a year earlier.
The consensus average from analysts' estimates compiled by Bloomberg was for a higher net profit of 9.745 billion yuan.
Barclays predicted China Telecom's iPhone sales to total three million units for the whole of this year, beating the operator's two million total last year. It said: "Higher iPhone sales this year should contribute positively to [monthly] average revenue per user growth, as well as total revenue growth."
China Telecom is expected to post first-half revenue of 84.559 billion yuan, rising from 83.893 billion yuan the previous year.