Customers will be able to pre-order the handset on Thursday

Dec 9, 2013 12:40 GMT  ·  By

Starting Thursday, December 12, China Mobile customers will be able to pre-order an iPhone 5s from the country’s biggest wireless operator.

The carrier has an install base 700 million strong, giving Apple a huge opportunity to expand its global market share. According to an advertisement on China Mobile’s site, pre-orders will begin on Thursday.

China Mobile is known to be opening 4G support, and the ad itself encourages customers to pick up an iPhone and take advantage of the boost in networking speed: “4G is here!”

The Wall Street Journal called China Mobile customer support, where a representative confirmed that iPhone pre-orders would begin on Thursday.

“Customers can begin to preorder for our new 4G services from Dec. 12 through the company’s website and some dedicated branches in Shanghai. But we will only start providing commercial 4G services after Dec. 18,” the representative said.