The rapid growth of mobile Shanghai, Aug 24 (DPA) The rapid growth of mobile telephones in China - the world's largest market - is threatening Chinese fixed line telecommunication firms.

China added only 1.29 million fixed-line phone users in July, a record monthly low, compared to 1.98 million in June and 2.38 million in May, according to the ministry of information industry.

A total of 366.59 million landlines are registered, local media reported Thursday.

Last month 5.42 million new mobile phone subscribers were added, to reach a total of 431.79 million, according to the ministry.

China Telecom, the country's leading fixed line operator, added 770,000 new users in July, the lowest this year, against 920,000 in June, reported the Shanghai Daily.

The switch to mobile phones is already hurting profits at Hong Kong-listed China Netcom which declined 7.7 percent in the first half of the year to 7.1 billion yuan ($891 million).