Overview
- The three state operators have restricted internet‑channel SIM and number sales to their official apps and websites, removing third‑party listings from major platforms.
- Operators said the move aims to protect user rights and prevent leaks of sensitive data that had flowed through agent networks and informal sellers.
- Low‑price large‑data “flow” cards sold by agents — sometimes ¥19–29 for hundreds of gigabytes and often built from local subsidies or platform‑specific traffic — largely disappeared from e‑commerce and short‑video platforms.
- China Broadcasting Network’s lower‑price cards remain visible on platforms and have seen a sales uptick, but some sellers report recent price rises and the risk that those offers could also be tightened.
- Analysts say consumers who relied on doorstep delivery and cheap data will face higher costs or travel to carrier shops, and they expect operators or new authorized reseller schemes to reintroduce controlled low‑cost options over time.