China Unicom targets global growth
China Unicom announced on Wednesday that it has identified international expansion as a new growth engine and is working with global partners to enhance submarine cable systems, cross-border terrestrial fiber routes, and accelerate the buildout of a global data-intelligent network and satellite-based internet of things infrastructure.
The State-owned telecom giant laid out its vision at the UniCom Global Partners Meeting 2026 in Shanghai.
Miao Shouye, deputy general manager of China Unicom, underscored the company's strategic shift from a "basic pipeline provider" to a "comprehensive digital service provider", focusing on the core areas of connectivity, computing power, services and security.
He called for four collaborative actions: co-building intelligent networks via shared submarine and cross-border cables, as well as edge nodes, to create an integrated space-air-ground-ocean network; co-developing a cross-border cloud-computing ecosystem with token-based product suites to tap new business opportunities; co-delivering smart services by embedding AI into industry scenarios to meet diverse client needs; and co-establishing a security framework that ensures safe cross-border data flows and joint anti-fraud efforts.
China Unicom's "product go-global capability matrix", featuring 32 overseas-deployed offerings including cross-border dedicated leased lines, was also unveiled at the Shanghai conference.
John Hoffman, CEO of GSMA Ltd, an international mobile operator association, praised China Unicom's proactive contributions to 5G and 5G-A vertical applications and large-scale AI deployment.
Hoffman said that, in the intelligent era, systematic innovation rests on three pillars: strong network infrastructure, embedded AI and robust partnerships.
He added that GSMA intended to continue close cooperation with China Unicom to translate technological advances into tangible value for the real economy and drive simultaneous upgrades across platforms and the entire industrial chain.
