China’s top telecom operators pivot to token-based AI services as daily calls hit 140 trillion
China’s three major telecom operators—China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom—are accelerating their shift from selling raw computing resources to offering AI services via token-based pricing. The “China Token Factory Development White Paper (2026)” reports token factories have entered an experimental phase, but operational projects remain limited. Daily token calls surged from 100 billion in early 2024 to 140 trillion by March 2026, per the National Data Administration. Token prices dropped from 3-5 yuan to about 1 yuan per million tokens by July 2026. Key challenges include unified metering standards, cost management, and shifting from usage-based to outcome-based pricing.
Reference imageEditorial responsibility
- No named human review is recorded for this page.
- Reports are grouped by semantic similarity and deterministic rules. Language models may assist titles, summaries, translation and cross-source analysis; the page reads the event directly, while its address stays stable when the title changes.
- Summary covers the current reports
Cross-source coverage
Common ground
- China's telecom operators are building a massive AI infrastructure with 140 trillion daily token calls and prices dropping from 3 to 1 yuan per million tokens.
- The shift from hardware scarcity to quality and efficiency shows China's industrial policy is working as intended.
- The Global South needs affordable AI access and should not be locked out by high Western prices.
- Strategic engagement with China's system is necessary as a bridge, not a final destination.
Points of contention
- Whether China's token standards and metering systems are open collaboration or a new form of digital colonialism.
- Whether the Global South should accept China's offer now or wait to build its own independent AI infrastructure.
- Whether China's model is genuinely multipolar and empowering, or just a kinder version of top-down control.
- Whether developing nations have real influence in multilateral bodies like ITU when China dominates the technical and economic leverage.
Blind spots
- Both sides focus on US-China rivalry but overlook how the Global South could pool resources regionally to build its own standards.
- The debate assumes the Global South lacks talent and capital, ignoring existing regional initiatives and potential for collective bargaining.
- Neither side fully addresses how data sovereignty and local ownership can be achieved in practice, not just in theory.
WorldAttention’s read
This debate shows a clear split: the Eastern Agent sees China's token factory as a historic opportunity for affordable, open AI infrastructure that the Global South should join now to avoid Silicon Valley's monopoly. The Regional Agent agrees it's a better deal than the West's, but warns it still creates dependency, with standards, patents, and control staying in Beijing. Both sides concede that building independent AI from scratch is a long-term goal, not an immediate option. The real blind spot is that neither fully explores how regional bodies like ASEAN or the African Union could negotiate real co-ownership and develop their own metering standards. The practical path forward is for the Global South to use China's affordable tokens as a stepping stone while investing in regional AI sovereignty, data laws, and joint research—so they become partners, not just customers.
Reporting timeline
China's Three Major Telecom Operators Accelerate Token Commercialization Push
A report from China Business Journal, republished by Beiguo Finance, details the rapid commercialization of the Token (word token) economy in China's AI sector. The 'China Token Factory Development White Paper (2026)' indicates Token factories have moved past the concept stage into a multi-track experimental phase, but operational projects remain a minority. The core challenge has shifted from computing power availability to producing stable, cost-competitive 'effective tokens.' Daily token calls surged from 100 billion in early 2024 to 140 trillion by March 2026, per the National Data Bureau. China's three major telecom operators—China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom—are aggressively entering the market, moving from selling resources to selling AI services. China Mobile has established a group-level Token Office, China Telecom is productizing tokens with fixed-price plans, and China Unicom is focusing on industry-specific solutions and launching a 'Yuanzhu' metering system. Analysts from Omdia and Ruhengda note that while token services are commoditizing, operators' true advantage lies in becoming the AI infrastructure and delivery layer. However, the industry faces three hurdles: establishing unified metering standards for 'effective tokens,' managing the high fixed costs of token factories, and shifting from pay-per-call to pay-per-task models. The article concludes that the token industry is in a phase of 'high growth and model experimentation.'
Read sourceChina's three major telecom operators accelerate token commercialization amid AI boom
A new white paper on China's token factory industry indicates the sector has moved beyond concept incubation into a trial phase of project construction, capacity procurement, and platform operations. However, truly operational projects remain scarce, and the core challenge has shifted from 'having computing power' to 'sustainably producing cost-competitive effective tokens.' National Data Administration data shows daily token calls surged from 100 billion in early 2024 to 140 trillion by March 2026. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology reports China's intelligent computing power reached 2,185 EFLOPS by June 2026, with overall rack utilization at 71.4%. The three major telecom operators—China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom—have launched token pricing plans, with prices dropping from 3-5 yuan per million tokens in May to about 1 yuan by July 2026. Omdia analyst Xia Maosen notes operators are shifting from pure token price arbitrage to leveraging network, computing, model, channel, and industry client capabilities. China Mobile established a group-level Token Office; China Telecom offers standardized token packages starting at 9.9 yuan/month; China Unicom is focusing on industry scenarios and launched the 'Yuanzhu' metering system. The article identifies three hurdles to mature commercialization: unified metering standards, cost-benefit management of capital-intensive token factories, and value realization shifting from per-call to per-task pricing.
China's Three Major Telecom Operators Accelerate Token Business as AI Economy Matures
A report from China Business Journal details the rapid evolution of the Token (token) economy in China's AI sector. A new white paper indicates that 'token factories' are moving from concept to pilot projects, but commercial operations remain limited. The core challenge has shifted from computing power availability to producing cost-effective, high-quality tokens. National data shows daily token calls surged from 100 billion in early 2024 to 140 trillion by March 2026. China's three major telecom operators—China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom—are aggressively entering the token market, launching products and platforms. China Mobile has established a group-level Token Office, China Telecom is offering standardized token packages (e.g., 9.9 yuan/month for 10 million tokens), and China Unicom is focusing on industry-specific solutions and a unified metering system. Omdia analyst Xia Maosen notes that token prices have dropped from 3-5 yuan to about 1 yuan per million tokens since May 2025, as operators shift from selling tokens to providing integrated AI services. The article identifies three key hurdles for mature commercialization: establishing unified metering standards for 'effective tokens,' managing the high fixed costs of token factories, and shifting from usage-based to outcome-based pricing.
Read sourceShow 4 older updatesHide older updates
China's Three Major Telecom Operators Accelerate Token Business as AI Economy Grows
A white paper on China's token factory industry, released in 2026, indicates that token factories have moved past the concept incubation phase and entered a trial stage of parallel project construction, capability procurement, and platform operation. However, the proportion of projects in actual production remains low. The core industry challenge has shifted from 'whether there is computing power' to 'whether stable, cost-effective valid tokens can be produced.' National Data Administration data shows daily token calls in China grew from about 100 billion in early 2024 to over 140 trillion by March 2026. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology reports China's intelligent computing power reached 2,185 EFLOPS by June 2026, with an overall rack rate of 71.4%. The three major telecom operators—China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom—are rapidly entering the token market with different strategies. China Mobile has established a group-level Token Office to integrate token creation, delivery, and application. China Telecom is productizing tokens with standardized personal and enterprise plans. China Unicom is focusing on industry scenarios and has launched a unified metering system called 'Yuanzhu.' Omdia analyst Xia Maosen notes that token prices have dropped from 3-5 yuan per million tokens in May to about 1 yuan by July 2026, as operators shift from selling token price differences to leveraging network, computing, model, and customer resources. The article identifies three key challenges for mature commercialization: unified metering standards, cost-benefit management of capital-intensive token factories, and value realization shifting from per-call to per-task or per-effect pricing.
China's three major telecom operators accelerate token business shift from resources to services
China's three major telecom operators—China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom—are accelerating their token (Token) business strategies, shifting from selling raw computing resources to offering AI services, according to a report by China Business Network. The article cites the 'China Token Factory Development White Paper (2026)' which notes that token factories have moved past the concept incubation phase into a multi-line experimental stage of project construction, capability procurement, and platform operations. However, truly operational projects remain limited. National Data Administration figures show daily token calls surged from 100 billion in early 2024 to 140 trillion by March 2026. The operators have rapidly cut token套餐 prices from 3-5 yuan per million tokens in May to about 1 yuan by July 2025, according to Omdia analyst Xia Maosen. China Mobile has established a group-level Token Office, China Telecom is productizing tokens with套餐 offerings like 9.9 yuan/month for 10 million tokens, and China Unicom is focusing on industry scenarios with its 'Yuanzhu' metering and billing system. The article identifies three key challenges to mature commercialization: unified metering standards, cost-efficiency at scale, and value realization shifting from usage-based to task-based pricing.
Read sourceChina's Three Major Telecom Operators Accelerate Token Business as AI Demand Surges
A white paper on China's Token factory development indicates the sector has moved past the concept incubation phase into a multi-track experimental stage involving project construction, capability procurement, and platform operations. However, the proportion of projects in actual production remains low, and the core challenge has shifted from 'having computing power' to 'sustainably producing cost-effective valid tokens.' National Data Bureau data shows daily token calls surged from 100 billion in early 2024 to 140 trillion by March 2026. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology reports China's intelligent computing power reached 2,185 EFLOPS by June 2026, with an overall rack rate of 71.4%. The article analyzes how China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom are pursuing distinct strategies—platform-based, product-based, and industry-scenario-based respectively—to capture the token market. Omdia analyst Xia Maosen notes token prices have dropped from 3-5 yuan per million tokens in May to about 1 yuan by July 2026, as operators shift from selling token price spreads to leveraging network, computing, model, channel, and customer resources. The article identifies three key challenges for mature commercialization: unified metering standards, cost-benefit management of capital-intensive token factories, and value realization through task- or effect-based pricing rather than simple call-volume billing.
China's Three Major Telecom Operators Accelerate Token Business Shift from Resources to Services
China's three major telecom operators—China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom—are accelerating their token (Token) business strategies, shifting from selling raw computing resources to offering AI services. According to the 'China Token Factory Development White Paper (2026),' token factories have moved past the concept stage into a trial phase combining project construction, capability procurement, and platform operations. However, truly operational projects remain limited. The core challenge has shifted from 'having computing power' to 'sustainably producing cost-effective valid tokens.' National Data Administration figures show daily token calls surged from 100 billion in early 2024 to 140 trillion by March 2026. The three operators have rapidly cut token套餐 prices from 3-5 yuan per million tokens in May to about 1 yuan by July 2026, abandoning pure price arbitrage for integrated value. China Mobile established a group-level Token Office; China Telecom launched standardized token套餐 for individuals and enterprises; China Unicom introduced the 'Yuanzhu' metering and billing system and focuses on industry scenarios. Omdia analyst Xia Maosen notes operators aim to become the AI infrastructure and delivery layer between models and end users. Key challenges remain: unified metering standards, cost efficiency at scale, and shifting from usage-based to outcome-based pricing.
Read source