China is expected to have 30 million fourth-generation mobile network service subscribers by the year-end, according to officials from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

Wen Ku, head of the telecommunication development department of the ministry, said in a Beijing forum on Tuesday that more than 300 Chinese cities will offer 4G telecom services this year.

Conservatively speaking, the country will have 30 million 4G subscribers by the year-end, but it is possible it may have more than 50 million 4G users this year, Wen said.

The ministry will allow the market to play an active role in pushing down 4G service fees, he added.

China Mobile said more than 250 Chinese cities will start the commercial rollout of 4G services by June and the figure will rise to 344 by the year-end.

The nation's smallest wireless network operator?- China Telecom Corp Ltd, commenced its 4G commercial rollout in China last week. China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd, the second-largest Chinese mobile carrier, is reportedly to offer 4G services in March.

?
Special: 3G versus 4G	4G's high cost has mainland buyers balking