CMLink UK vs CTExcel UK: Keep-Alive, China Data, IP Quality Compared

For Chinese speakers living in the UK, CMLink UK (China Mobile) and CTExcel UK (China Telecom) are the two default candidates. Both are EE MVNOs, both offer a UK number plus a Chinese secondary number, and both target the UK-China corridor. The differences that matter: keep-alive cost, price per GB back to China, 5G, and IP landing. All official facts below verified 2026-09-26.

The short answer

• Want 5G and reliable SMS verification while in mainland China → CMLink
• Buy large China data bundles and want the cheapest keep-alive → CTExcel
• Minimum upfront cost → CTE UK (the budget CTExcel-family monthly line, see below)

Core comparison

• Host network: both ride EE, identical UK coverage
• 5G: CMLink supports it; CTExcel roams on 4G only (official)
• Dual number: both offer UK + Chinese secondary number for SMS in the mainland
• First activation: both require UK/EU presence; CTExcel additionally needs chargeable activity within 10 days of activation
• China data pricing (official, 2026-09):
  • CMLink China bundle: 40GB shared UK+China / £19 / 90 days
  • CTExcel China bundles: 30GB/£22 and 50GB/£28 (promo, was £36/£40) / 180 days — clearly cheaper per GB

Keep-alive: the biggest difference

CMLink: monthly/annual plans get 90 days after expiry before the line is closed; but tourist/one-off China bundles get only 30 days (confirmed in the official planlist wording, 2026-09). Easy to miss.

CTExcel: any chargeable event in a 180-day window keeps the line alive — a call, text, data, top-up or bundle purchase all count, and texting BAL to 888 (balance check) counts too. Official reminder SMS at ~60 days of inactivity. One of the lowest keep-alive bars among UK Chinese-community SIMs.

For a parked number, CTExcel wins outright.

IP landing and verification use (community-reported)

• Both exit as native UK EE mobile IPs when in the UK
• CMLink mainland-China roaming reportedly lands on a Hong Kong residential IP, with Singapore breakout on Singapore plans (single-user hands-on, 2026-09, unverified) — the reason it doubles as an AI-subscription backup card
• CTExcel mainland landing is “similar to CMLink” per community, but not independently verified; the operator advertises a “clean UK IP”

Which plans for whom (official, 2026-09)

CMLink for: UK-based users who want 5G speeds, visit China occasionally, and value stable verification SMS. Entry point is a £1 trial with a £2 standard activation top-up.

CTExcel for: heavy China-data users (30-50GB per half-year) on a 180-day cycle, plus Wi-Fi Calling with unlimited calls to China. Note the 365-day bundles (£15/15GB, £36/50GB) are discontinued; only 180-day bundles remain.

What is CTE UK?

CTE UK is China Telecom Europe’s other product line. Official pricing: 22GB UK-China shared at £9.90/30 days up to 300GB at £19.90; freecard promo gives a free SIM with £1 prepay waived — the lowest entry cost of the three. The tradeoffs: 90-day activity rule and community stability reports behind CMLink. Open with CTE, park long-term with CMLink or CTExcel.

FAQ

Can I activate in mainland China? No for both — plan for activation on arrival in the UK/EU.

Which receives verification codes more reliably in China? Community consensus favors CMLink (EE roaming, Hong Kong residential landing); CTExcel works but its mainland landing is unverified.

Does 5G matter? Only if you live in a UK city and use data heavily. For parking and SMS, 4G is fine.

Full profiles: CMLink UK, CTExcel UK, CTE UK. Carrier policies change; facts verified 2026-09-26 — always check the official order page before buying.