Are Fixed Monthly Phone Bills Over? A Deep Dive into the Three Major Carriers' New Pay‑As‑You‑Go Plans

Unicom “Magic Cube” pay‑as‑you‑go service

Launched at the end of April 2026, replaces the traditional fixed monthly fee with tiered data pricing: 1.5 RMB per GB for the first 20 GB, 1.2 RMB per GB for 20‑50 GB, and 1 RMB per GB beyond 50 GB. Voice calls cost 0.1 RMB per minute and SMS/MMS cost 0.1 RMB per message. A mandatory base charge of 39 RMB applies each month regardless of usage.

China Mobile

No pay‑as‑you‑go product is offered. Starting in May 2026 the carrier discontinued five low‑usage value‑added services (Life, Rural Credit, Mobile Market, 12590 voice magazine, Dream Net short‑message) and reduced the number of active plans, while providing an 8 RMB “flexible‑selection” plan for existing customers.

China Telecom

No official pay‑as‑you‑go offering; rumors of a “Tianyi Pay‑Per‑Use” or “Free Travel” trial were debunked. The carrier continues to focus on bundled packages and adjustments to out‑of‑package fees.

Cost comparison (Unicom Magic Cube)

Light user (~10 GB data, 100 min voice) → 25 RMB, saving 34 RMB versus a traditional 59 RMB plan.

Heavy user (>100 GB) → ≥116 RMB, less economical than high‑data bundles.

Very low‑usage (<39 RMB threshold) → the base fee makes the plan more expensive than an 8 RMB retain‑service plan.

Regulatory background

On 30 April 2025 the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology launched the “Clear Service, Trustworthy Use” campaign, mandating transparent pricing, simplified package offerings, clear contract terms, one‑click unsubscribe, and identical online and offline downgrade channels.

In early 2026 mobile data, SMS and broadband were re‑classified as basic telecom services, raising VAT from 6 % to 9 %. Carriers pledged not to pass the tax burden to users, instead reducing ultra‑low‑price unlimited plans and accelerating migration to cloud computing and AI‑driven value‑added services.

Implications

Unicom’s pilot demonstrates that pay‑as‑you‑go can be cheaper for light users but may penalize heavy or very low‑usage customers because of the 39 RMB floor. Mobile and Telecom have not introduced similar products yet, but ongoing regulatory pressure and tax changes suggest future optimization of fixed‑fee structures.

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