Forget cellular data: China’s telecoms giants are selling AI token plans

South China Morning Post - May 18, 2026

For years, mobile carriers have billed users by the gigabyte. Now, China’s telecoms giants are seeking to monetise the artificial intelligence boom by introducing a new unit of measurement to monthly bills: the AI token. On Sunday, China Telecom unveiled nationwide, token-based pricing packages aimed at a range of customers – from casual users to developers and businesses – according to information listed on the company’s app. Consumer packages, tailored for everyday tasks, start at 9.9 yuan...

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