China
Mobile networks and carriers in China use 2 GSM bands, 2 UMTS bands, 8 LTE bands, and 7 5G NR bands. Find out if your unlocked phone or mobile device will work in China. See the tables below for details.
Will your phone or mobile device work in China?
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Check device compatibilityChina's mobile network has undergone significant development since its inception. China Mobile, one of the country's major mobile operators, was incorporated in 1997 as China Telecom (Hong Kong) Limited and emerged from the 1999 break-up of China Telecommunications Corporation. The company has continued to provide mobile services, expanding its network to cover 97% of the Chinese population by 2006 and extending internet infrastructure to rural areas through the Connecting Every Village Project initiated by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in 2004.
China Mobile has also been involved in overseas activities, such as the purchase of Paktel in Pakistan in 2007, which launched the Zong brand. The company has explored expansion into other countries, including Myanmar, though this plan ultimately fell through.
In terms of technology, China Mobile operates a GSM network that covers all 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and directly administered municipalities in mainland China, as well as Hong Kong. The company has developed its own 3G standard, TD-SCDMA, and has been expanding its 4G and 5G networks. Huawei has been a key player in China's 5G development, with the company awarded 52% of 5G contracts in 2023.
China's mobile network has also seen significant advancements in digital payments, with users able to make payments by scanning WeChat QR codes as part of a program to remove barriers between technology ecosystems.
Carriers
| Name | # of frequency bands in use |
|---|---|
| China Mobile | 11 |
| China Telecom | 7 |
| China Unicom | 9 |
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Frequencies in use
GSM
| Name | Interface |
|---|---|
| 900 MHz (E-GSM) | GSM |
| 1800 MHz (DCS) | GSM |
UMTS
| Name | Interface |
|---|---|
| B1 (2100 MHz) | UMTS |
| B8 (900 MHz GSM) | UMTS |
LTE
| Name | Interface |
|---|---|
| B1 (2100 MHz) | LTE |
| B3 (1800 MHz +) | LTE |
| B5 (850 MHz) | LTE |
| B8 (900 MHz) | LTE |
| B34 (TD 2000 MHz) | LTE |
| B39 (TD 1900 MHz +) | LTE |
| B40 (TD 2300 MHz) | LTE |
| B41 (TD 2500 MHz) | LTE |
5G NR
| Name | Interface |
|---|---|
| N1 (2100 MHz) | 5G NR |
| N5 (850 MHz) | 5G NR |
| N8 (900 MHz) | 5G NR |
| N28 (700 MHz) | 5G NR |
| N41 (2500 MHz) | 5G NR |
| N78 (3500 MHz) | 5G NR |
| N79 (4700 MHz) | 5G NR |
Latest updates
- 2024/08/09 - Carrier China Unicom updated.
- 2024/08/09 - Carrier China Telecom updated.
- 2024/08/09 - Carrier China Mobile updated.
- 2024/08/04 - Carrier China Unicom updated.
- 2024/08/04 - Carrier China Telecom updated.
- 2024/08/04 - Carrier China Mobile updated.
