China's Big Three Carriers Launch Token Plans, Facing Cost and Awareness Issues

China's three major carriers—China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom—have launched Token plans to add 'AI fees' beyond traditional calls and internet. Tests show a simple 'hello' uses about 50,000 tokens (around 0.125 yuan), draining a 15-yuan plan in under an hour. Developers say monthly costs are 5-6 times that of mainstream AI subscriptions.

Visits to stores in cities like Chengdu and Shanghai reveal staff confusion about Token plans, and online customer service struggles to explain. China Mobile offers a 5-yuan/month LITE plan (2.5 million tokens) in Jiangsu, and a 1-yuan pack (400,000 tokens) in Shanghai. China Telecom's three tiers range from 9.9 to 49.9 yuan, covering 10 to 80 million tokens. China Mobile also integrates tokens with cloud PC and phone products for AI apps.

2025 earnings report shows all three carriers have revenue growth below 1% and declining net profits, making Token plans a potential new revenue source. However, high costs and low awareness may hinder adoption.