SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 6-K

Report of Foreign Private Issuer

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the Month of October 2018

Commission File Number 1-31517

China Telecom Corporation Limited

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

31 Jinrong Street, Xicheng District

Beijing 100033, China

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.)

Form 20-F  ☒             Form 40-F  ☐

(Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):  ☐)

(Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):  ☐)

(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.)

Yes  ☐             No  ☒

(If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):82-            .)

EXHIBITS

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained in this Form 6-K may be viewed as “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. These forward-looking statements are, by their nature, subject to significant risks and uncertainties, and include, without limitation, statements relating to:

The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “seek,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify a number of these forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, some of which are beyond our control. In addition, these forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are not a guarantee of future performance. We are under no obligation to update these forward-looking statements and do not intend to do so. Actual results may differ materially from the information contained in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including, without limitation, the following:

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Please also see the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s latest Annual Report on Form 20-F, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

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Exhibit 1.1

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited take no responsibility for the contents of this announcement, make no representation as to its accuracy or completeness and expressly disclaim any liability whatsoever for any loss howsoever arising from or in reliance upon the whole or any part of the contents of this announcement.

China Telecom Corporation Limited

中国电信股份有限公司

(A joint stock limited company incorporated in the People’s Republic of China with limited liability)

(Stock Code: 728)

KEY FINANCIAL AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS FOR THE FIRST THREE QUARTERS OF 2018

In order to further enhance the transparency of the Group and to enable shareholders, investors and the general public to better appraise the operational performance of the Group, the board of directors (the “Board”) of China Telecom Corporation Limited (the “Company”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”) announces certain selected unaudited key financial and performance indicators of the Group for the first three quarters of 2018.

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Financial Data (Extracted from financial records prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards)

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Business Data

For the first three quarters of 2018, facing increasingly intensified market competition coupled with complicated and changing industry environments, the Group adhered to established development strategy with excellent execution and continued to implement deepened reforms and innovation, achieving new breakthrough in scale. With further implementation of the “Speed Upgrade and Tariff Reduction” policy, the Group cancelled data roaming fees from 1 July 2018. The number of mobile subscribers reached approximately 294 million, representing a net addition of 44.07 million; of which the number of 4G users reached 230 million, representing a net addition of 48.41 million and maintained good growth momentum. The handset data traffic³ increased by 366% over the same period of last year. The monthly average data traffic per 4G user reached 5,219 MB and maintained strong growth. The average mobile service revenue per user per month (ARPU) decreased over the same period of last year. Facing intensified market competition, wireline broadband subscribers achieved favourable growth and reached 144 million, representing a net addition of 10.31 million. Despite the decline in the ARPU of broadband access, the growth in wireline broadband subscribers vigorously supported the rapid development of Smart Family service. With continuous strengthening of the advantages of ecological cooperation of the Company, the number of e-Surfing HD subscribers exceeded 100 million while IDC, cloud and Big Data businesses achieved rapid development, expediting the growth of Intelligent Applications ecosphere⁴.

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For the first three quarters of 2018, the Group proactively adapted to the impacts of cancellation of data roaming fees and implementation of new revenue standard with steady promotion of business operation as planned. For the first three quarters of 2018, the operating revenues were RMB284,971 million, representing an increase of 3.6% over the same period of last year, of which the service revenues were RMB264,934 million, representing an increase of 6.0% over the same period of last year. The operating expenses increased by 4.5% over the same period of last year. Of which, the depreciation and amortisation expenses increased by 6.1% over the same period of last year which was mainly due to the corresponding increase brought by the investment in 4G and fibre broadband construction in recent years. In order to further enhance network capabilities and quality to support scale development of business, the network operations and support expenses increased by 11.5% over the same period of last year. The selling, general and administrative expenses increased by 1.9% over the same period of last year which was well controlled amid rapid growth in the scale of subscribers mainly as a result of the continuous optimisation of the Company’s sales and marketing model and the implementation of new revenue standard. The personnel expenses increased by 6.0% over the same period of last year. During the period, other operating expenses decreased by 12.0% over the same period of last year which was mainly attributable to the corresponding decrease in the costs of mobile terminals sold in line with the decrease in sales of mobile terminals during the period. For the first three quarters of 2018, the investment income and share of profits of associates increased by 171.6% over the same period of last year which was mainly due to the change in the Group’s shareholding percentage in China Tower Corporation Limited (“China Tower”) resulting in an increase in the interests in China Tower being accounted for under equity method after the listing of China Tower. During the period, the net finance costs decreased by 18.4% over the same period of last year which was mainly due to the Group’s increased efforts in stringent control over capital centralisation and decrease in the scale of interest-bearing debts. The profit attributable to equity holders of the Company was RMB19,034 million, representing an increase of 2.7% over the same period of last year. EBITDA⁵ was RMB80,819 million, representing an increase of 2.5% over the same period of last year. EBITDA margin⁶ was 30.5%.

In the future, the Group will firmly seize the development opportunities of the communications and information industry and proactively respond to market competition and changes with perseverance in innovation and integration to promote scale development. With unwavering devotion to promote the “three initiatives”⁷ transformation and to persistently implement in-depth reforms, the Group will reinforce corporate vitality and efficiency as well as promote enhancement of corporate capabilities, endeavouring to continuously create new value potential for shareholders.

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The Board wishes to remind investors that the above financial and business data are based on the Group’s unaudited management accounts. Investors are cautioned not to unduly rely on such data.

In the meantime, investors are advised to exercise caution in dealing in the securities of the Company.

Beijing, China, 29 October 2018

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained in this announcement may be viewed as “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 (as amended) and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (as amended). Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual performance, financial condition or results of operations of the Company to be materially different from any future performance, financial condition or results of operations implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition, we do not intend to update these forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these risks, uncertainties and other factors is included in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and in the Company’s other filings with the SEC.

As at the date of this announcement, the Board of Directors of the Company consists of Mr. Yang Jie (as the chairman and chief executive officer); Mr. Ke Ruiwen (as the president and chief operating officer); Mr. Gao Tongqing, Mr. Chen Zhongyue and Madam Zhu Min (as the chief financial officer) (all as the executive vice presidents); Mr. Chen Shengguang (as the non-executive director); Mr. Tse Hau Yin, Aloysius, Mr. Xu Erming, Madam Wang Hsuehming and Mr. Yeung Chi Wai, Jason (all as the independent non-executive directors).

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