China Mobile Ltd, the nation's biggest telecom operator by subscriber numbers, is stepping into its most difficult phase financially because of the next-generation network construction and increasingly severe competition in the domestic market, according to analysts.

China Mobile's shares slumped 3.4 per cent to HK$ 82.15 ($10.6) on Tuesday, after the company disappointed the market on Monday with a nearly 9 percent drop in its third-quarter net profit.

Analysts argued that China Mobile might have entered its most financial difficult stage and the situation is about to continue "for a while". "China Mobile is progressing with its 4G network deployment and the company will follow its 190 billion yuan guidance in terms of capital expenditure this year," said Deng Liangsheng, an analyst with China Merchants Securities Co Ltd.