BEIJING - China Unicom Ltd, the country's second-largest mobile operator, said Thursday that the company met its 3G goal by adding another 3.48 million subscribers in December, bringing its total 3G subscribers to 40.02 million by the end of 2011.

The company aimed to increase its 3G subscribers by 25 million last year. It had 14.06 million 3G subscribers by the end of 2010.

The carrier's 2G subscribers climbed to 159.64 million by the end of last year, the company said in a statement filed to the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

The operator's Internet users with broadband access increased by 118,000 to reach 55.65 million by the end of 2011, while its fixed-line telephone users fell by 853,000 to 92.85 million, according to the statement.

The company's shares edged up 0.2 percent to finish at 5.09 yuan.