Unisoc's TMC-E9 becomes first 5G eSIM chip approved by China Telecom
On November 12, Unisoc announced that its TMC-E9 series eSIM chips have officially entered China Telecom's terminal library, making them the first 5G mobile eSIM chips to be approved by the carrier.
The TMC-E9 series had previously been integrated into the supply chains of China Unicom and China Mobile, and is already in stable use across leading Chinese smartphone brands. With this latest milestone, Unisoc has completed full access to all three major Chinese telecom operators.
The chips support full network standards from 2G to 5G and have passed real-world testing with over 400 carriers. They allow users to download and manage up to 10 profiles, enabling flexible switching between networks globally.
In terms of security, the TMC-E9 series supports both international and Chinese encryption algorithms and complies with GSMA and domestic standards. It has earned certifications including GSMA eSA, CC EAL6+, UnionPay chip security, and China's national level-2 encryption.
For the domestic market, the chips offer features such as device-card binding, secure card activation, encrypted data transmission, overseas number control, and a three-tier asymmetric certificate system. They also support operator-issued certificates and have already been deployed in China's first commercial eSIM solution with carrier certification.
Unisoc, formerly known as Spreadtrum Communications, is a Chinese fabless semiconductor company headquartered in Shanghai. It specializes in mobile chipsets and wireless communication solutions, and plays a key role in China's push for self-developed telecom technologies.
