China’s major telecom operators are turning AI usage into token-based subscription plans, using AI model tokens as the billing metric to monetize the AI boom.

Plans are priced for developers and small businesses, with monthly tiers ranging from 39.9 yuan for 15 million tokens to 299.9 yuan for 150 million tokens.

China Telecom has rolled out trial token-based plans for developers, small businesses, households, and individuals, featuring tiered token allowances plus optional broadband speed boosts and cybersecurity services.

AI tokens quantify the text, code, or data processed by an AI model, with about four characters per token and roughly three-quarters of a word; 1 million tokens approximate the length of the Harry Potter series.

Tokens serve as the units measuring the usage of text, images, and commands in generative AI systems, acting as a gauge of AI computing consumption.

Shanghai Telecom has previously begun token-based operations, including giving subscribers a 25 million-token free quota as part of an early rollout.

Shanghai Telecom’s latest rollout includes free quotas of 25 million tokens for subscribers, signaling early adoption of tokenized AI access in the market.

A Tencent collaboration offers an AI workspace priced at 400,000 tokens for 1 yuan, with a unified pricing structure that lets users switch between AI models within the same account.

China Mobile in Shanghai launched a universal token service for consumers and offices to access multiple AI platforms under one account, with billing via phone, and partnered with Tencent for an AI-native workspace platform.

The Tencent collaboration includes 400,000 tokens for 1 yuan and a unified pricing model enabling model-switching within a single account.

China Telecom is bundling token plans with its TeleChat model and supports third-party models like Zhipu AI’s GLM-5 and DeepSeek-V3.2, with add-ons for enhanced connectivity and cybersecurity.