CTExcel UK (CTE)
eSIM + PhysicalChina Telecom Europe's UK MVNO on EE — China–UK shared data from £9.9, free SIM
Best for: UK–China users wanting cheaper entry than CMLink with China–UK shared data.
Overview
CTExcel UK is China Telecom (Europe)'s personal mobile brand (since 2012), an MVNO on EE — independent of CMLink (China Mobile system). Official prices (2026-09): UK 3GB £4.90; China–UK shared 22GB £9.9 / 50GB £11.9 / 120GB £14.9 / 300GB £19.9; Unlimited tier £29.9 (£23.9 promo). Free SIM via freecard campaign; ordering a bundle at card claim waives the £1 pre-load. Auto-cancel after 90 days of non-use.
CTE UK is the China Telecom counterpart to CMLink's China Mobile lineage: an EE MVNO aimed at UK–China users. Official plan list (2026-09): UK-only 3GB/30d £4.90; China–UK shared bundles 22GB £9.9, 50GB £11.9, 120GB £14.9, 300GB £19.9 (300GB tier adds 20GB EU); Unlimited £29.9 (£23.9 promo) with 300GB China + 30GB UK/EU. £11.9+ tiers include 200 UK minutes to 15 international destinations incl. China. One-card-two-numbers, eSIM available (re-opened; physical→eSIM conversion costs £3 per community reports), port-in supported.
Acquisition cost is lower than CMLink's: the freecard campaign gives the SIM free, and ordering a bundle at claim time waives the £1 pre-load. Community sources report no real-name KYC needed (unofficial). Keep-alive: auto-cancellation after 90 days without usage — bundles renew per 30 days.
Community single-user hands-on (2026-09, unverified): landing IP similar to CMLink's; stability rated below CMLink; rumored future throttling unconfirmed. Verdict: cheaper and easier to open than CMLink, CMLink still stronger for long-term keep-alive.
Popular plans
| Plan | Data from | Validity | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| China–UK 22GB | 22GB shared UK+China | 30 days | £9.9 |
| China–UK 300GB | 300GB + 20GB EU | 30 days | £19.9 |
Official plan list (2026-09-25). eSIM conversion fee from community reports; KYC-free claim unofficial.
Pros
- Cheapest China-UK entry point among UK Chinese-operator SIMs
- Free card + waived pre-load lowers opening cost
- Same EE network as CMLink
Things to note
- Stability rated below CMLink (community)
- 90-day inactivity cancellation
- Throttling rumors unconfirmed
Key features
- China–UK shared data from £9.9/22GB
- Free SIM via freecard + £1 pre-load waived
- One card two numbers; eSIM available
- 200 UK minutes incl. China on £11.9+ plans