China Mobile used MWC Shanghai 2026 to present a wider telecom vision. Chairman Chen Zhongye said AI will reshape networks, services, and infrastructure. The operator wants to move beyond mobile communication. It now sees a path toward mobile computing, mobile intelligence, and mobile AI.
Chen framed the shift with a direct challenge to operators. “When the network has no blind spots, when traffic is completely free, when computing power is no longer scarce, what should we do? And what can we do to winning the next 10 years?” Chen said.
The message was clear. Networks can no longer act only as data pipelines. They must help run AI services, support cloud intelligence, and create new value. This could give operators a stronger role in digital services. It could also reduce dependence on basic connectivity revenue.
However, the model demands heavy investment. AI-ready networks need more computing power, faster transport, and stronger cloud platforms. Operators must also manage energy use, security, and data governance. These issues will matter as AI workloads move closer to users.
Chen said the industry has moved through several stages. First came voice and messaging. Then came mobile data. Now, he sees “intelligent flow” carrying knowledge and solving real problems.
“From mobile communication, we will further extend to mobile computing and mobile intelligence and mobile AI,” Chen said. He added that China Mobile will focus on “the intelligent service system and intelligent service infrastructure.” He called them “the two driving wheels for the company’s future growth.”
China Mobile also wants partners to join this shift. “We are building a service platform for win-win collaborations,” Chen said. “We are opening our resources, building up these service systems to all possible partners in the whole value chain.”
This open approach could speed up innovation. Developers, device makers, and enterprises may gain faster access to telecom capabilities. Yet partnerships can become complex. Revenue sharing, platform control, and service quality will require clear rules.
China Mobile has already applied AI across sports, culture, and finance. It is also exploring AI phones, AI glasses, and humanoid robots. For enterprises, it is building the Sky Industrial Internet Platform. Target sectors include steel, manufacturing, and energy.
One steel industry example focused on smart fire prevention. AI can copy experienced workers’ observation skills. This may reduce human exposure to heat and radiation. Such use cases show where telecom AI can deliver practical value.
On infrastructure, China Mobile is advancing 5G, 10G optical networks, and integrated air-space-ground systems. It is also researching 6G around AI requirements. The company plans large intelligent computing centers. High-speed optical links will connect these facilities.
The wider market backdrop remains strong. The GSMA expects mobile technologies to add $2.1 trillion to China’s economy by 2030. That figure was $1.5 trillion in 2025. For operators, the opportunity is large. The execution challenge may be even larger.
