3G phone use could double this year

China's 3G penetration rate could more than double this year, according to Chang Xiaobing, chairman of China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd, the nation's second largest telecom carrier.

Chang spoke to reporters during the ongoing Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing.

The 3G penetration rate – defined as the number of 3G users as a percentage of the entire population -- was about 13 percent by the end of 2011, with the total of 127.5 million 3G users.

In January, China Unicom had 43.07 million 3G subscribers, up 3.05 million from December. China Mobile had 53.94 million 3G users and China Telecom 38.7 million 3G users in January.