The Wall Street Journal has confirmed that Apple and China Mobile have finally reached a deal that will see the world’s biggest mobile carrier offering the iPhone on its network from 18th December 2013.

China Mobile, which has more than 700 million subscribers, is one of the last major carriers in the world that does not currently offer the iPhone, and this deal should bring a huge boost in sales to Apple.

To put this deal in perspective, this deal with China Mobile would give Apple access to a subscriber base that is seven times the size of Verizon Wireless, the U.S.’s largest carrier. Greater China, including Hong Kong and Taiwan, is Apple’s third biggest market after the U.S. and Europe in terms of revenue.