Are China Telecom and China Mobile connected by two fiber optic cables

China Mobile and China Telecom do share certain fiber optic infrastructure, particularly in large-scale projects like submarine cables and PON deployments, but they also maintain separate networks for most domestic operations.Shared Submarine Cable ProjectsChina Mobile and China Telecom are both members of the New Cross Pacific (NCP) submarine cable consortium, which spans 13,000 km across the Pacific Ocean connecting the US and Asia. This system includes seven fiber pairs and was designed with high-capacity DWDM technology. Both operators, along with China Unicom and other international partners, jointly invested in and maintain this cable system, sharing the infrastructure for trans-Pacific connectivity . This demonstrates that in international or intercontinental projects, sharing fiber infrastructure is common to reduce costs and improve efficiency.Passive Optical Network (PON) Equipment SharingIn domestic networks, both China Mobile and China Telecom have engaged in centralized procurement of PON equipment from vendors like ZTE, FiberHome, Huawei, and Nokia Shanghai Bell. While this does not necessarily mean they share the same physical fiber lines, it indicates coordination in technology standards and equipment deployment, which can facilitate interoperability and potential shared use in certain urban or high-density areas .Independent Domestic Fiber NetworksDespite these shared projects, China Mobile and China Telecom largely maintain separate fiber optic networks for their domestic broadband and mobile backhaul services. Each operator conducts its own procurement of optical cables and network infrastructure, as seen in China Mobile's 2025–2026 optical cable tender, where multiple suppliers were awarded contracts specifically for China Mobile's network expansion . This ensures competitive service offerings and network control.SummaryShared infrastructure: International submarine cables (e.g., NCP) and coordinated PON equipment procurement .Separate infrastructure: Domestic fiber networks, including city and regional backbones, are generally independent .Rationale: Sharing reduces costs for large-scale projects, while independent networks allow operators to maintain service differentiation and control. In conclusion, China Mobile and China Telecom share fiber optic infrastructure in specific large-scale or strategic projects, but for most domestic operations, they operate separate fiber networks.