China Mobile has introduced AI into applications spanning sports, culture, and finance, while also exploring AI mobile phones, AI glasses, and humanoid robots
In sum – what to know:
Mobile intelligence – China Mobile said it plans to extend from mobile communication to mobile computing, mobile intelligence, and mobile AI.
AI infrastructure – The operator highlighted investments in intelligent infrastructure, including computing networks, intelligent computing centers, and AI cloud services.
Industry applications – China Mobile showcased AI applications spanning consumer services, manufacturing, energy, and sports.
SHANGHAI — China Mobile chairman Chen Zhongye used his keynote at MWC Shanghai 2026 last week to describe how the operator sees artificial intelligence reshaping telecom networks, services and infrastructure, while outlining a vision that extends from mobile communication to mobile computing, mobile intelligence, and mobile AI.
According to Chen, the emergence of AI is raising new questions for telecom operators about the future role of networks and services. “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 executive said that in the future, networks will no longer function solely as pipelines, but will also support cloud inference and intelligent generation through AI platforms.
Looking back at the evolution of mobile technology, Chen said the industry is moving from transmitting voice and messages, and later data traffic, to processing “intelligent flow” that carries knowledge and solves problems.
“From mobile communication, we will further extend to mobile computing and mobile intelligence and mobile AI,” Chen said, adding that China Mobile will focus on “the intelligent service system and intelligent service infrastructure,” which he described as “the two driving wheels for the company’s future growth.”
The executive also stressed that China Mobile is building an open platform. “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.”
On the consumer side, Chen said China Mobile has introduced AI into applications spanning sports, culture and finance, while also exploring AI mobile phones, AI glasses, and humanoid robots.
For industrial customers, Chen said China Mobile is building the Sky Industrial Internet Platform, focusing on sectors including steel, manufacturing and energy.
As an example, Chen said China Mobile and its partners have developed a smart fire prevention technology for the steel industry that uses AI to replicate experienced workers’ observation capabilities, helping reduce workers’ exposure to high temperatures and radiation.
On the infrastructure side, Chen said China Mobile is promoting the development of 5G, 10G optical networks and air-space-ground integrated networks, while also advancing 6G research and development based on AI requirements.
The carrier is also accelerating the development of an integrated computing power network, including large-scale intelligent computing centers connected through all-optical high-speed interconnection.
In addition, Chen said China Mobile is upgrading AI cloud services and building what he described as a “full-length platform of central edge and terminal” to support coordinated computing resources.
Chen also said that China Mobile is willing to work with global partners to build communication, computing and intelligent networks.
Mobile technologies are expected to contribute $2.1 trillion to China’s economy by 2030, up from $1.5 trillion in 2025, according to a new report released by the GSMA..
The report, dubbed ‘The Mobile Economy China 2026’, forecasts that the mobile sector’s contribution to the Chinese economy will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7% through the end of the decade, nearly double the country’s projected overall GDP growth rate of 3.8%.
