China Telecom, the third-largest mobile operator in China, cut iPhone 5S prices by around 15 per cent ahead of China Mobile’s launch of the device next week.

According to China Telecom’s promotional materials, obtained by Bloomberg, the mobile operator is offering a combination of price reductions and gift packages that altogether shave CNY800 ($132) off the CNY5,288 list price for a 16GB iPhone 5S.

For subscribers on a service plan costing CNY189 per month, China Telecom has cut the cost of the iPhone by CNY400 to CNY4,888.

The other CNY400 saving, said China Telecom, takes the form of a free gift pack with accessories (including an iPhone case and external battery pack).

“It is the general practice of our company to roll out marketing promotion programmes at appropriate times to enhance the business growth,” Jacky Yung, a Hong Kong-based representative for China Telecom, said in an e-mail quoted by Bloomberg.

China Mobile will start selling iPhones in stores on 17 January. It has yet to publish pricing and subsidy details.

China Telecom has been selling the iPhone since March 2012.

China Unicom, the country’s second-largest mobile operator, began offering the iPhone as far back as November 2009.

Bloomberg reported it hasn’t yet launched any iPhone promotions ahead of the China Mobile release.