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China Mobile
China Mobile Communications Corporation
China Mobile dominates China's mobile market with 96% 5G population coverage, 1 billion+ subscribers, and average download speeds of 131 Mbps. Full coverage and service review 2026
China Mobile network coverage across China as of 2026
China Mobile Communications Corporation operates as the world's largest mobile network operator by subscribers, serving over 1.0 billion users across China with 96% 5G population coverage and an average national download speed of 131 Mbps. This review covers network performance across Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou; customer service channels; eSIM and roaming features; and a head-to-head comparison with China Telecom and China Unicom.
China Mobile Communications Corporation (中国移动通信集团有限公司), China's largest state-owned mobile network operator established in 2000 and listed as China Mobile Limited on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX: 0941) and the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE: 600941), serves over 1.0 billion subscribers and commands 61% of China's wireless market share as of 2024, according to China Mobile Limited financial reports published January 2025.
China Mobile delivers the broadest 5G network in China at 96% population coverage, backed by approximately 2.8 million 5G base stations and average mobile download speeds of 131 Mbps — the fastest among all domestic carriers. The operator reached a milestone in April 2025 by becoming the first telecom company globally to achieve simultaneous 5G mobile gigabit network and gigabit fiber broadband coverage across all townships in China, according to SASAC network announcements published December 2025. With 552 million active 5G subscribers representing 55.0% of its total user base, China Mobile leads both the domestic and global mobile markets in 5G adoption scale, according to company subscriber data published in 2024.
This review covers China Mobile's 4G and 5G network performance across Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou; five primary customer service channels including the 24/7 10086 hotline; additional services such as eSIM support, international roaming across 200+ countries, and the He Bao (和包) loyalty rewards program; and a competitive comparison against China Telecom and China Unicom to help you identify the right carrier for your connectivity needs in China.
For alternative carrier options in China, read the China Telecom review and the China Unicom review before making your final decision.
China Mobile covers 99% of China's population with 4G LTE service and 96% with 5G networks as of April 2025. The operator's 5G infrastructure reaches all townships nationwide and extends mobile service to every administrative village across China's 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions, according to China Mobile's network milestone announcement published April 2, 2025, confirmed by SASAC reports from December 2025.
China Mobile operates the world's largest single-operator 5G network, with approximately 2.8 million 5G base stations by the end of 2025, including 5G-Advanced (5G-A) commercial deployment across more than 300 cities, according to MIIT infrastructure data published January 2026 and RCR Wireless reporting from June 2025. China's total 5G base station count across all operators reached 4.838 million by end of 2025, translating to 34.4 base stations per 10,000 people and exceeding the national 14th Five-Year Plan infrastructure target by 8.4 units, according to MIIT data published January 28, 2026.
China Mobile's 4G LTE network operates on TD-LTE frequency bands B38, B39, B40, and B41, supplemented by FDD-LTE bands B1, B3, and B8, providing comprehensive indoor and outdoor coverage across urban and rural environments throughout China's vast geographic territory. The 5G network deploys primarily on the n41 mid-band spectrum at 2.6 GHz for broad population reach and adds n79 spectrum at 4.9 GHz in dense urban zones — including Beijing's Central Business District, Shanghai's Pudong New Area, and Guangzhou's Tianhe commercial district — for peak throughput in high-density environments.
China Mobile's 5G-A network, offering 10-times peak speeds over standard 5G and significantly greater connection density, operates commercially in more than 300 cities as of year-end 2025, according to RCR Wireless infrastructure reports published June 2025. The operator reached the milestone of all-township 5G coverage on April 2, 2025, becoming the first telecom operator globally to achieve this coverage benchmark, according to SASAC announcements published December 2025.
China Mobile delivers average mobile download speeds of 131 Mbps nationally, leading all Chinese carriers in mobile broadband performance, according to Ookla Speedtest Intelligence data cited in reports published Q1 2024. China's national median mobile download speed reached 139.58 Mbps as of January 2025, positioning China sixth globally for mobile performance and well above the 51.1 Mbps global average, according to DataReportal Digital 2025: China published February 2025. Shanghai ranks first among all provinces and municipalities for mobile download performance, with Beijing and Guangzhou following as top-performing metropolitan markets.
Location | Download (Mbps) | Upload (Mbps) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
Shanghai | 163.2 | 34.7 | Ookla Speedtest Intelligence Q4 2025 |
Beijing | 151.8 | 29.4 | Ookla Speedtest Intelligence Q4 2025 |
Guangzhou | 144.5 | 27.1 | Ookla Speedtest Intelligence Q4 2025 |
National Average | 131.0 | 25.6 | Ookla / DataReportal February 2025 |
China Mobile speed test results across major cities compared to the national average, Q4 2025
Learn more about 5G network performance in China for a detailed technical comparison of speeds and frequencies across all major operators.
China Mobile operates five primary customer service channels, with 24/7 phone support available at no charge through the national hotline 10086. The carrier's customer Net Promoter Score stands at -11, reflecting ongoing satisfaction challenges at scale, according to Comparably customer survey data published 2024. Physical retail presence spans more than 10,000 official China Mobile Business Halls (营业厅) across all 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions, according to China Mobile operational data published 2025.
Phone Support: Dial 10086 (toll-free from any China Mobile number within China) — available 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year across UTC+8
Mobile App Live Chat: China Mobile App (中国移动) — in-app live chat and automated service ticketing available 24 hours daily; rated approximately 4.2/5 stars on iOS App Store China and major Android platforms including Huawei AppGallery and Xiaomi GetApps
Physical Business Halls: 10,000+ official service halls located across Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and all provincial capitals and county-level cities; standard operating hours 09:00 AM – 06:00 PM, Monday through Sunday
WeChat Official Account: Real-time messaging support via China Mobile's official WeChat account (中国移动), available 08:00 AM – 10:00 PM daily (UTC+8) with AI-assisted first-response triage
Online Self-Service Portal: 10086.cn — account management, bill payment, plan upgrades, and formal complaint submission available 24 hours, 7 days a week
China Mobile customer service contact channels and availability hours, 2026
Compare customer service availability, response times, and satisfaction scores for all major Chinese carriers in our comprehensive carrier support comparison guide.
China Mobile provides these value-added services across its base of 1.0 billion+ subscribers:
International Roaming: Available in 200+ countries and regions across Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America, South America, Africa, and the Middle East through China Mobile International Ltd. — covering major destinations including the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, and Australia; roaming packages require pre-activation via the China Mobile App or by calling 10086 before departure
Mobile App Features: The China Mobile App (中国移动) delivers real-time data usage monitoring, one-tap bill payment with e-invoice generation, service plan upgrade and downgrade, 5G speed test integration, international roaming package activation, He Bao (和包) digital wallet management, store locator for 10,000+ Business Halls, and in-app customer support ticketing — all accessible from a single interface
eSIM Support: China Mobile supports eSIM for domestic subscribers on compatible devices including iPhone 12 and later models, select Samsung Galaxy S-series, and Huawei Mate-series smartphones; eSIM activation requires an in-person visit to an official China Mobile Business Hall with valid Chinese national identification
He Bao Rewards Program (和包): China Mobile's integrated digital wallet and loyalty platform accumulates points based on monthly service spend; points are redeemable for handset discounts, monthly service fee offsets, streaming subscription credits on iQIYI and Migu Video, and partner retail vouchers from major brands
Family Plans — Home Together (和家亲): Shared data plans for 2 to 5 family members allow data pooling, additional-line discounts, parental control features, and unified billing under a single account
5G Cloud Services — Yidong Cloud (移动云): Enterprise and consumer applications include cloud gaming, CloudLink office collaboration, smart home integration, and IoT device management on China Mobile's dedicated cloud infrastructure
China Mobile app interface showing core service management and He Bao rewards features
Discover more about eSIM technology and activation procedures for compatible devices in China, including step-by-step instructions for iPhone and Android handsets.
China Mobile key advantages and disadvantages for subscribers in 2026
World's Largest Single-Operator 5G Network: China Mobile operates approximately 2.8 million 5G base stations achieving 96% population coverage and reaching all townships and every administrative village across China, according to MIIT and SASAC network data published 2025
Fastest Mobile Broadband Performance In China: China Mobile leads all domestic carriers with a national average mobile download speed of 131 Mbps, placing China sixth globally for mobile speed and above the 51.1 Mbps global benchmark, according to Ookla Speedtest Intelligence data cited by DataReportal Digital 2025: China published February 2025
Unmatched Market Scale And Stability: With 1.0 billion+ subscribers, 61% wireless market share, and 2024 annual revenue of RMB 1.05 trillion ($151 billion USD), China Mobile maintains the deepest infrastructure investment and broadest device compatibility of any Chinese operator, according to China Mobile Limited financial reports published January 2025
5G-Advanced Commercial Deployment In 300+ Cities: China Mobile's 5G-A network, delivering 10-times peak throughput over standard 5G, operates commercially in more than 300 Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Chengdu, according to RCR Wireless reports published June 2025
Extensive Physical Retail Presence: 10,000+ official China Mobile Business Halls nationwide ensure in-person service access in every major city, district, and prefecture-level area across all 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions
Great Firewall Internet Restrictions: All China Mobile SIM cards operate within China's national internet filtering system, blocking access to services including Google, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Twitter without a separately configured VPN; this restriction applies regardless of plan type or device
eSIM Unavailable For International Visitors: China Mobile does not offer eSIM activation for international visitors or tourist SIM accounts; eSIM support is restricted to domestic subscribers completing in-person registration at official Business Halls with valid Chinese national identification documents
Limited English-Language Customer Support: China Mobile's primary service channels — including the 10086 hotline, official app, and most Business Hall staff — operate predominantly in Mandarin Chinese, creating accessibility barriers for non-Chinese-speaking subscribers and international visitors
Urban-Rural Speed Disparity: While 5G coverage extends to all townships, average 5G download speeds in rural county-level areas remain substantially below the 131 Mbps national average, reflecting base station density differences between metropolitan and rural infrastructure zones
China Mobile operates in a three-operator domestic market alongside China Telecom (中国电信, HKEX: 0728) and China Unicom (中国联通, HKEX: 0762), with China Broadnet (中国广电) functioning as a newer 700 MHz 5G entrant. China Mobile's subscriber base of 1.0 billion+ surpasses China Telecom's 433 million and China Unicom's approximately 330 million mobile subscribers by a substantial margin, according to operator financial reports published in late 2024 and early 2025. China Telecom and
China Mobile operates in a three-operator domestic market alongside China Telecom (中国电信, HKEX: 0728) and China Unicom (中国联通, HKEX: 0762), with China Broadnet (中国广电) functioning as a newer 700 MHz 5G entrant. China Mobile's subscriber base of 1.0 billion+ surpasses China Telecom's 433 million and China Unicom's approximately 330 million mobile subscribers by a substantial margin, according to operator financial reports published in late 2024 and early 2025. China Telecom and China Unicom have responded by sharing 5G base station infrastructure through a co-build agreement, yet China Mobile's independent network scale, 5G-A deployment, and cloud ecosystem maintain a structural competitive lead across all key performance metrics.
Feature | China Mobile | ||
|---|---|---|---|
4G Population Coverage | 99% | 98% | 96% |
5G Population Coverage | 96% | 94% (shared with Unicom) | 94% (shared with Telecom) |
Avg. Mobile Download Speed | 131.0 Mbps | 118.4 Mbps | 112.7 Mbps |
Total Subscribers | 1,000M+ | 433M | 330M |
Active 5G Subscribers | 552M | 198M | 154M |
5G Base Stations (own) | ~2,800,000 | ~1,100,000 (co-shared) | ~1,100,000 (co-shared) |
International Roaming | 200+ countries | 200+ countries | 190+ countries |
eSIM Support (domestic) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Stock Exchange Listing | HKEX: 0941 / SSE: 600941 | HKEX: 0728 / SSE: 601728 | HKEX: 0762 / SSE: 600050 |
China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom performance metrics comparison as of 2026
China Mobile suits subscribers who prioritize the widest 5G footprint, the fastest average download speeds of 131 Mbps, and the deepest 5G-Advanced commercial deployment across 300+ cities. China Telecom delivers a competitive alternative for users in southern China and those who require bundled fiber-broadband and mobile services. China Unicom offers the strongest compatibility with international devices and an open-network approach that attracts dual-SIM and MVNO users in major metropolitan areas including Beijing and Shanghai.
Read the detailed China Mobile vs China Telecom comparison or explore the China Unicom full review for a side-by-side analysis of plans, speeds, and rural coverage.
China Mobile delivers the broadest, fastest 5G network in China — 96% coverage, 131 Mbps average speeds, 1 billion+ subscribers — making it the definitive choice for users who demand maximum nationwide connectivity.
Explore more mobile carrier options through our complete China carrier directory or learn how to choose the right carrier for your needs in China.
China Mobile operates a 5G network covering 96% of China's population across all 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions as of April 2025. The carrier deploys approximately 2.8 million 5G base stations — the largest single-operator 5G infrastructure globally — and extends 5G-Advanced (5G-A) commercial service to more than 300 cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Chengdu. All townships in China reached 5G coverage on April 2, 2025, according to SASAC network announcements published December 2025.
China Mobile achieves an average mobile download speed of 131 Mbps nationally, ranking first among all domestic Chinese carriers. Peak performance reaches 163.2 Mbps in Shanghai, 151.8 Mbps in Beijing, and 144.5 Mbps in Guangzhou. Average upload speed stands at 25.6 Mbps nationally. China's national median mobile download speed reached 139.58 Mbps as of January 2025, placing the country sixth globally for mobile broadband performance and above the 51.1 Mbps global average, according to DataReportal Digital 2025: China published February 2025.
China Mobile covers 99% of China's population with 4G LTE service and reaches all townships and every administrative village nationwide with either 4G or 5G connectivity. Coverage encompasses all 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions, including Tibet, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, and Qinghai — areas where competing carriers maintain thinner infrastructure. Urban centers such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Chengdu receive full 5G-Advanced commercial service. Rural and mountainous zones benefit from China Mobile's dedicated base station expansion programs funded under the 14th Five-Year Plan, according to MIIT data published January 2026.
China Mobile customer service is reachable 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by dialing 10086 from any China Mobile number at no charge. Additional contact channels include in-app live chat through the China Mobile App (中国移动), WeChat official account messaging available 08:00 AM – 10:00 PM (UTC+8), and self-service account management at 10086.cn. In-person support is available at 10,000+ Business Halls located across all provinces from 09:00 AM – 06:00 PM daily. English-language phone support requires requesting an English-speaking agent after the Mandarin-language IVR menu.
China Mobile supports eSIM for domestic subscribers on compatible devices, but eSIM activation is unavailable for international visitors. Compatible devices include iPhone 12 and all later iPhone models, select Samsung Galaxy S-series handsets, and Huawei Mate-series smartphones that support the Chinese eSIM standard. Activation requires an in-person visit to an official China Mobile Business Hall with a valid Chinese national identity card (居民身份证). Foreign passport holders cannot complete eSIM registration under current regulations, requiring a physical nano-SIM instead.
China Mobile international roaming covers 200+ countries and regions across six continents through China Mobile International Ltd. Roaming destinations include major markets in Asia-Pacific such as Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, and Australia; European destinations including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy; North American markets including the United States and Canada; and select African and Middle Eastern territories. Roaming packages — covering data, voice, and SMS — require pre-activation through the China Mobile App or by calling 10086 before departure. Specific daily data roaming rates and bundled package options vary by destination zone.
China Mobile leads China Telecom in every major network metric: 1.0 billion+ versus 433 million subscribers, 131 Mbps versus 118.4 Mbps average download speed, and approximately 2.8 million versus 1.1 million 5G base stations. China Mobile's 5G network operates independently at full national scale, while China Telecom co-shares 5G infrastructure with China Unicom, limiting independent deployment flexibility. China Telecom offers a competitive advantage for subscribers who bundle mobile and fiber-broadband under a single unified account, particularly in Guangdong, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu provinces where Telecom maintains a strong fixed-line heritage.
China Mobile's standout feature is its 5G-Advanced (5G-A) commercial network, operating in 300+ Chinese cities and delivering 10-times peak throughput over standard 5G at speeds exceeding 1 Gbps in optimal conditions. This places China Mobile at the forefront of global 5G deployment, ahead of all domestic competitors and most international operators. Backed by approximately 2.8 million 5G base stations and achieving the world's first all-township 5G coverage milestone on April 2, 2025, China Mobile's 5G-A infrastructure positions it as the only carrier offering both universal rural 5G reach and cutting-edge urban 5G-Advanced commercial services simultaneously, according to SASAC announcements published December 2025.
Sources:
China Mobile Limited — Annual Report 2024, Published January 2025
Ookla Speedtest Intelligence — China Mobile Speed Data, Q4 2025
RCR Wireless News — China 5G Rush: 4.5M 5G Base Stations, 300 5G-A Cities, Published June 27, 2025
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