The sales of cellphones in China's domestic market is to reach 115 million units in 2009 with the annual compound growth rate being 6.1 percent, said sources with a research company CCID.

Latest report released by CCID shows that China's mobile communication market is to enter a period of stable growth in five years.

China has promised to provide 3G (third generation mobile communication) service in 2008, which would definitely promote the market growth, said Huang Yong, executive president with CCID Consulting Company.

CCID predicted that the years of 2005 and 2006 would be the introducing period for 3G and the number of China's 3G subscribers is expected to reach 230 million by 2009.

During the country's 15th five-year plan, China would promote its 3G development in large scale, said Deng Shoupeng, expert who lent a hand in making China's 15th five-year plan (2006-2010).

Huang Yong predicted that rural mobile communication market would see rapid growth in the near future as cell phones have been widely used in urban areas.

Besides, China has a large group of consumers who love to update their handsets, the expert said.

Statistics show that by the end of April, China had 354 million mobile phone subscribers and the country produced 230 million handsets last year.

Source: Xinhua