The world’s largest mobile carrier, which has twice as many subscribers as the entire population of the United States, will invest upwards of $4 billion this year to build its 4G network.

China Mobile is believed to be making the effort at least partially in response to the looming arrival of Apple’s iPhone on its sprawling network with more than 700 million subscribers.

Reuters confirmed on Thursday, however, that the carrier already has 10 million customers who own the iPhone despite the incompatibility of the smartphone with China Mobile’s TD-SCDMA 3G technology.

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Earlier this month, Sprint expanded its 4G LTE footprint to 28 more locations across the United States. This week, more key locations were added to the list.

On Monday, Sprint announced that it is offering 4G LTE in even more cities effective immediately.

Among the new locations are:

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As expected, China saw a massive increase in all matters related to mobile during 2012. According to published industry estimates on Tuesday, the number of mobile 3G subscribers in China ballooned by 83 percent in 2012.

Brian White of Topeka Capital Markets says China had 233 million 3G subscribers at the close of 2012. That figure was 127.5 million at the close of 2011.

Apple Insider gained access to White’s most recent note to investors, showing that China gained 11.8 million 3G subscribers just in the month of December 2012.

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In what comes as yet another undeniable indicator of rampant mobile adoption inside of China, a new report shows that the number of 3G subscribers in China has increased by 88% in the last year alone.

As of the end of November, 222 million Chinese consumers were 3G subscribers.

“Even though China Mobile has 707.3 total wireless subscribers, making it the world’s largest carrier, the telecom has just 82.4 million 3G customers,” says Sam Oliver of Apple Insider. “China Mobile represents 64 percent of the total wireless subscribers in China, but only 37 percent of China’s 3G users — and its share shrunk from 41 percent of 3G users a year ago.”

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Following a tidal wave of new iPad sales last month upon the release of the iPad mini and the 4th generation iPad, Apple is now tells its user base that the cellular-capable iPad mini is about to ship.

On Friday, Apple had begun notifying a large number of its users (via email) that the iPad mini with 3G/4G LTE network capabilities will begin shipping in just five days.

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In what is shaping up to become one of the hottest new features of iOS 6, Apple said today at WWDC that FaceTime video chat will no longer require Wi-Fi connectivity.

Scott Forstall, Apple’s vice president of iPhone Software, said iOS 6 will let iPhone users make FaceTime video calls over cellular data networks.

iOS 6 beta will be released to developers today (and will reach the general public this fall). It will be compatible with iPhone 3GS or later. iOS 6 will also work with the iPad 2 and 3, but not the original iPad as MMW reported this morning.

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U.S. Cellular today confirmed its expansion into the realm of 4G LTE devices with the launch of the Samsung SCH-LC11 Mobile Hotspot.

According to the mobile operator, the lightweight device gives users the quality high-speed connectivity they expect.

The device is available online directly from the carrier now but it will also be in stores by May 21.

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