China Mobile has accelerated its push into quantum metropolitan area networks (Q-MANs) over recent months, according to the company's official procurement platform.
While procurement of quantum-related products and services had been sporadic over the past five years, activity has picked up markedly since March, with the headquarters, specialized subsidiaries, and provincial branches all sourcing a wide range of quantum offerings.
The turning point came in October 2025, when China Mobile joined forces with multiple ecosystem partners to launch the "Light Up 100 Cities" quantum test network. The initiative aims to extend quantum connectivity to 100 cities and enable cross-domain interconnection.
The first quantum metro network was deployed in Hefei, Anhui province, featuring four access nodes arranged in a ring topology. The current phase does not include relay or user nodes; these will be added on demand as the network scales and market adoption grows.
Since the start of this year, provincial subsidiaries including Fujian, Sichuan, Gansu, Hunan, Jiangsu, Shanghai, and Shaanxi have all launched tenders for quantum metro network projects.
In 2021, China Mobile teamed up with CAS Quantum to form Xintong Shuzhi Quantum Technology Co., Ltd., now renamed China Mobile Quantum Technology Co., Ltd., which has become a core supplier for the operator's quantum metro builds. China Mobile initially held a 49% stake in the joint venture but has since increased its control to 65%, according to corporate registry data.
Beyond the JV, China Mobile has made broad-based investments in the quantum tech space through its "two-direct, three-fund" investment framework. Its portfolio includes, but is not limited to, Huayi Quantum, Boson Quantum, Xintong Quantum, CAS Quantum, Origin Quantum, Turing Quantum, and Zhongwei Daxin.