China Mobile, the world’s largest mobile operator, continued to widen its lead on rivals, adding more than 20 million 4G subscribers in July, taking its total to 449 million.

Over the past seven months the operator picked up 136.5 million 4G subs – far more than either of its rivals’ 4G total. The operator accounts for 72 per cent of 4G subscribers in the country. More than half its customers are now on 4G plans.

China Telecom, the nation’s third largest operator, signed up 5.7 million 4G subs in July, taking its total 4G adds this year to 37 million. It closed the month with 95.8 million 4G users, ahead of larger (overall) rival China Unicom, which added 5.4 million to raise its total to 77.8 million. Unicom’s 4G user base has increased by nearly 33.7 million this year.

China Mobile’s 3G user base has shrunk as it has aggressively pushed 4G. It has just 127 million 3G subs after losing 5.5 million 3G users in July. The operator also had 1.9 million net additions during the month, giving it 839 million total subs.

The market leader has a 64 per cent share of total mobile connections, according to GSMA Intelligence.