2025年10月13日，中國工業和信息化部（工信部）正式批复中國三大電信運營商—中國聯通、中國移動、中國電信——開展eSIM手機商用試驗，標誌著國內通信正式邁入「無卡時代」。這一舉措不僅代表技術層面的創新，更關乎中國通信產業在全球數字化浪潮中的戰略布局。

根據官方公告，三大運營商已相繼宣佈正式上線eSIM業務，用戶可透過運營商官方App預約相關服務，並前往線下營業廳辦理。值得注意的是，現階段暫不開放線上全流程辦理，原因在於安全管控要求，線下辦理成為唯一渠道，以確保用戶身份驗證和信息安全。這次商用試驗是在2023年因安全風險暫停 eSIM 業務的基礎上再次啟動，經過兩年技術優化，主要解決實名認證漏洞、跨境寫卡濫用等安全問題。

實際上，早在2025年6月，工信部就已正式批复三大運營商全面推進eSIM技術應用，要求通過技術升級確保用戶信息安全、提升業務可靠性。經過三個月的準備，10月正式啟動商用試驗，這意味著 eSIM 將全面進入國內手機市場，逐步替代傳統實體SIM卡，為用戶提供更加便捷的通信體驗。

那麼，為何中國要推廣 eSIM 呢？主要原因可以從以下幾個方面理解：

首先，提升用戶便利性。傳統 SIM 卡需要實體插拔，尤其是在多設備使用場景下非常不便，而 eSIM 技術可以將 SIM 卡信息嵌入手機芯片，用戶只需掃碼或線上操作即可完成開通和切換，實現多號碼、多運營商之間的靈活切換。這對於出差頻繁、經常使用雙卡或國際漫遊的用戶尤其便利。其次，促進通信技術升級與產業升級。eSIM是5G及未來6G應用的重要基礎，支持物聯網（IoT）、智能穿戴設備、車聯網等多場景應用。對中國而言，推廣 eSIM 不僅能提升國內通信網絡智能化水平，還有助於在全球數字通信領域占據技術制高點。第三，增強安全管控能力。相比實體SIM卡，eSIM的身份認證和信息管理更容易統一標準化，能夠減少卡片被非法複製或濫用的風險。同時，中央及運營商可通過技術手段及時更新和管理卡片信息，提升監管效率。最後，符合國家數字化戰略。中國正在推動數字中國建設，包括智慧城市、數字政務、工業互聯網等領域。eSIM作為通信基礎設施的重要升級，將成為智能設備互聯和移動數據安全的重要支撐。

總體而言，中國推廣eSIM的背後，是從用戶便利、技術升級、安全管控到國家戰略多層面考量的結果。這不僅意味著通信方式的革新，也為中國在全球通信技術競爭中奠定了堅實的基礎。隨著商用試驗逐步擴展，未來eSIM將成為手機、可穿戴設備以及物聯網設備的標準配置，真正實現「無卡化」的數字通信時代。

On October 13, 2025, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) officially approved the three major telecom operators—China Unicom, China Mobile, and China Telecom—to launch commercial trials of eSIM services for mobile phones, marking the country’s formal entry into the “cardless era” of mobile communication. This move represents not only a technological innovation but also a strategic step for China’s telecommunications industry in the global digital landscape.

Following the announcement, all three operators declared that the eSIM service was officially launched. Users can currently book the service through the operators’ official apps and complete activation at offline service centers. At this stage, online processing is not available due to security control requirements, ensuring proper identity verification and protection of personal information. The launch comes after eSIM services were suspended in 2023 over security concerns. Since then, technical upgrades have addressed issues such as real-name authentication loopholes and cross-border eSIM misuse, paving the way for a safer and more reliable implementation.

In fact, as early as June 2025, MIIT had formally approved the operators to fully promote eSIM technology, emphasizing that technological enhancements must ensure user information security and service reliability. After three months of preparation, the October approval officially kickstarted commercial trials, signaling that eSIM technology will gradually replace traditional physical SIM cards in China, providing users with a more convenient mobile experience.

But why is China actively promoting eSIM? There are several key reasons:

First, enhancing user convenience. Traditional SIM cards require physical insertion and swapping, which can be cumbersome, especially for users with multiple devices. eSIM embeds the SIM profile directly into the device chip, allowing users to activate or switch numbers and carriers digitally. This is particularly convenient for frequent travelers or those who use dual SIM setups or international roaming.

Second, driving telecommunications and industrial upgrades. eSIM is a foundational technology for 5G and future 6G applications and supports a wide range of scenarios including the Internet of Things (IoT), smart wearables, and connected vehicles. For China, promoting eSIM not only improves domestic network intelligence but also positions the country strategically in global digital communication technology.

Third, strengthening security and regulatory control. Compared to physical SIM cards, eSIM allows for standardized identity verification and information management, reducing the risk of card cloning or misuse. Operators and regulators can update and manage eSIM profiles in real time, improving oversight efficiency.

Finally, aligning with China’s digital strategy. China is actively advancing the “Digital China” initiative, encompassing smart cities, digital governance, and industrial internet development. eSIM, as a next-generation communication infrastructure, becomes an essential enabler for secure mobile connectivity and device interconnection.

In summary, China’s push for eSIM adoption is driven by a combination of user convenience, technological advancement, security, and national strategic considerations. Beyond transforming the way people connect, eSIM lays a foundation for China to maintain a competitive edge in global telecommunications. As commercial trials expand, eSIM is expected to become a standard feature for mobile phones, wearables, and IoT devices, ushering in a fully cardless, digital communication era.