Hutchison Whampoa Limited announced that, as of 7 October, the Group's 3G global customer base is over 10 million. This milestone comes after only 18 months of operation with full handset availability.

Hutchison's Group Managing Director, Mr Canning Fok said, "This important milestone confirms our Chairman Mr Li Ka-shing's remarks made at the last interim results announcement and reflects the 3 Group's continuing ability in achieving above market expectation customer take-up. More importantly, 3 Group customers have a better than market average ARPU profile in all our markets.

The Group's 3G business has established significant market shares in its largest markets and in all these markets its share of market revenues is even higher than the share measured by customer numbers. This is among other things supported by strong and growing customer take-up of the Group's mobile broadband Internet and data services, and its mobile media products.

"We are continuing to introduce new and innovative products and services in all of these areas and I am confident that we will maintain our leadership position in this industry as we move into the important Christmas market season ahead," Mr Fok added.