China Telecom has reported a marginal revenue increase of 0.6% for the first nine months of 2025, reaching CNY397 billion ($55.7 billion). Despite fierce market competition, the company’s net profit rose 5% to CNY30.8 billion, showcasing robust growth. This rise reflects its strategic emphasis on 5G and digital transformation.
Key to this growth is the expanding adoption of 5G. The company reported 292.4 million 5G subscribers by the end of September, constituting 66.9% of its mobile user base. This significant penetration underscores the growing appetite for next-gen services. Meanwhile, total mobile subscriptions climbed to 437.2 million.
In non-mobile sectors, wireline broadband customers increased from 196.6 million to 200.5 million over the year. This growth aligns with China Telecom’s ongoing push into digital infrastructure and “AI+” initiatives. The carrier is committed to enhancing industrial digitalization through AI and cloud technologies, which are pivotal for long-term development.
In line with these efforts, China Telecom has emphasized strategies such as “Cloudification, Digital Transformation, and AI for Good.” These drive the evolution of their foundational services and industrial digitalization, crucially leveraging AI to upgrade digital information infrastructure.
This year’s cooperation with sector giant Huawei introduced a new 5G Advanced technology at MWC Shanghai. Dubbed Intelligent Ultra Pooling Uplink, the innovation enhances data transmission from devices to networks, crucial for wearables and connected cars.
According to Huang Lilian of China Telecom, the blend of AI and 5G-Advanced is revolutionizing communication modalities. Multi-modal exchanges involving video, audio, and text are predicted to become standard, influencing both personal and industrial applications.
In summary, China Telecom’s modest revenue growth is backed by substantial advances in 5G, AI, and digital infrastructure. These strategic investments, despite a challenging market landscape, position the carrier for future successes in a rapidly transforming technological environment.
