China Mobile taps BT to launch MVNO business in UK

China smartphone userChina Mobile International has tapped BT to launch of CMLink, its mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) business in the UK.

CMLink will provide mobile voice and data services designed for Chinese immigrants, students and professionals living in and traveling to the UK.

There are over 433,000 British-Chinese living in the UK. Chinese nationals studying in the UK on student visas have grown 17 percent to 82,000. Visits to the UK from China have increased 47 percent to 115,000 in the first half of 2017.

China Mobile serves 880 million domestic mobile subscribers. CMLink is currently the only MVNO service with no extra fees on data, minutes and texts across the UK, selected destinations in the EU, mainland China and Hong Kong SAR.

CMLink subscribers can make free calls to 880 million China Mobile users in China.

CMLink MVNO offers a Data Growth Pack which rewards subscribers with an extra 5 percent data allowance each month, up to a total of 200 percent more data.

Its partnership with BT is for using EE mobile network. CMLink customers will be able to benefit from the biggest 4G network in the UK, which extends to 86 percent of the UK’s landmass, rising to 95 percent by 2020.

“BT has been chosen by China Mobile International to help them as they enter the UK mobile market using our EE network. Our MVNO offering is the best thanks to the strength and coverage of our EE 4G mobile network,” said Gerry McQuade, CEO of BT Wholesale & Ventures.