eSIM adoption surges as China Mobile introduces AI-eSIM technology

The adoption of eSIM technology accelerated significantly during the first half of 2026 across both consumer markets and the Internet of Things (IoT) sectors. According to the Trusted Connectivity Alliance (TCA), global eSIM profile downloads for consumers in the first six months of 2026 nearly matched the total volume recorded for the entire year of 2025. This growth was largely driven by China following regulatory approvals in late 2025, alongside continued expansion in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South America.

In a related technological advancement, China Mobile introduced ‘AI-eSIM’ in May 2026. This new specification integrates network connectivity with real-time cloud AI model access and hardware-level security. Designed primarily for AI-IoT devices such as smart glasses, robots, and smart appliances, the AI-eSIM allows low-power devices to utilize high-performance cloud AI without requiring expensive onboard processors. The technology also enables unified billing for both data usage and AI tokens. China Mobile is already collaborating with partners like Midea to develop AI-integrated consumer electronics.