China Mobile, China’s largest mobile operator, doubled the data allowance on one of its 4G tariff plans – at no extra charge – so keeping last month’s promise to cut LTE charges by up to 50 per cent.

As reported by the Xinhua news agency, China Mobile, as of 1 June, is charging CNY70 ($10) for a monthly 2GB allowance (the price previously charged for 1GB).

China Mobile’s decision comes in the wake of criticism about high 4G prices, as well as complaints about weak signals and limited coverage.

China Mobile nonetheless managed to rack up another two million subscribers to its TD-LTE network during April, taking the total number of 4G subscribers up to 4.8 million as of 30 April. China Mobile’s 4G service was commercially launched in December.

The re-positioning of tariffs comes against a backdrop of some shareholder anxiety – expressed at the firm’s AGM on 22 May – about profitability and high network investment.

China Mobile has committed to invest CNY225.2 billion ($35.7 billion) during 2014, up more than 20 per cent from last year. Nearly half of that sum is allocated to mobile networks. The plan is to complete the rollout of more than 500,000 TD-LTE 4G base stations by the end of 2014, covering more than 340 cities.