[ET Net News Agency, 11 August 2017] HSBC Global Research tweaked its target price for
China Mobile (00941) to HK$94 from HK$93, and maintained its "hold" rating.
The research house cited management in the results briefing noting that the 5G standard
had yet to be ratified, but it expects field-trials in 2018, with rollout in 2019 and
large-scale launch in 2020.
HSBC thinks launch in 2019 is now possible: it expects that China will want to keep pace
with other first-mover markets such as Japan, Korea and the US. Balance sheets at China
Unicom (00762) and China Telecom (00728) are more constrained, so HSBC expects China
Mobile to rollout national coverage.
It believes that China Mobile should be able to sustain the 5G investment cycle with
positive operating free cash flo. (KL)