Core Insights - The three major telecom operators in China, namely China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom, have emphasized their strategies and achievements in the AI and IoT sectors in their 2025 semi-annual reports, indicating a consensus on AI as a new growth driver for telecom operators [1][2] Group 1: IoT Business Progress - The semi-annual reports highlight the progress in the IoT sector, covering aspects such as connection scale, network capabilities, and AIoT platform development [2] - IoT is identified as the main driver of total connection growth for telecom operators, with China Mobile reporting a total connection count of 3.815 billion, a net increase of 145 million, and an estimated IoT connection count of approximately 2.487 billion, contributing 93.8% to the net increase [3][5] - China Telecom's total connection count is about 1.448 billion, with nearly 688 million IoT connections, contributing 85.8% to the net increase, while China Unicom has over 1.2 billion connections, with 690 million IoT connections, contributing 84.4% to the net increase [3] Group 2: Digital Infrastructure Development - The digital infrastructure for IoT is being strengthened, with a total of 4.55 million 5G base stations nationwide as of June 2025, supporting various digital applications [6] - China Mobile has opened over 2.599 million 5G base stations, while China Telecom has 1.49 million high-frequency and 880,000 low-frequency base stations, enhancing network capabilities [7] Group 3: AIoT Applications and Services - The application of AIoT in various industries is emphasized as the ultimate value realization of IoT services, with China Mobile signing 1,485 AI+DICT projects and reaching nearly 200 million customers with AI-enabled products [8] - China Telecom has launched multiple intelligent agents covering 450 million customers in public services, while China Unicom focuses on enhancing differentiated services and has established 7,500 5G factories [8] Group 4: Revenue and Value Assessment - The revenue from IoT connections and information services is evolving, with China Mobile reporting a 6.7% growth in IoT connection revenue and a 23.9% growth in IoT information revenue [9] - The overall revenue from mobile IoT in China is projected to reach 45.271 billion yuan in 2024, with contributions from China Telecom, China Mobile, and China Unicom being 5.019 billion, 26.299 billion, and 13.953 billion yuan respectively [9] - The decline in average revenue per user (ARPU) from individual connections is noted, with a shift towards higher growth in IoT information services, indicating a more significant value proposition for telecom operators [10]