Mobile Internet and roaming in China: who is more profitable?

Few people use regular mobile communications in China. We, like most Chinese, make audio and video calls using Wechat, you can use Skype or Viber - whoever is used to what. Therefore, in China you need a SIM card with good internet without any SMS and minutes for calls. We highly recommend that you familiarize yourself with the tariffs so as not to pay 300-500 yuan (3-5 thousand rubles) for negotiations in the first month. At the same time, the subscription fee can be quite modest; the lion's share will be consumed by gigabytes due to an unsuccessfully chosen package.

There are three main cellular operators in China - China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom.

Best VPNs for Internet Access in China

A Brief Review of the VPNs You'll Need in China

• ExpressVPN works at fairly reliable speeds in all regions, has software for all common operating systems and platforms, and is the easiest option for tourists. With the moneyback service, it is even possible to return money for a paid package if you have used it for less than a month. Save up to 49% when purchasing from the official website
• NordVPN does not have stable speeds everywhere, but if connected, it usually works fine. Confidently bypasses Firewall blocks using obfuscated server technology. Detailed overview of characteristics
• VyprVPN is another strong provider on the market, although the connection is not very stable. However, it overcomes the Firewall restrictions, so communication is available. Full description

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We reduce the cost of SMS messages

If the subscriber does not plan to use voice communication services and text messages will be enough for him, then you should pay attention to the following options:

• Package "50 SMS". You can activate the package for 495 rubles. Its validity period is one month. If the limit is exhausted, the 51st message will be charged at roaming rates (25 rubles for sending one message).
• Package "100 SMS". You can activate the package for 695 rubles. Its validity period is one month. When the limit is exhausted, the 101st message will be charged at roaming rates (25 rubles for sending one message).

Internet in China for tourists

Information for those who are going on a short tour and will not purchase a local SIM card, relying on a connection to open Wi-Fi.

• 1. There is public Wi-Fi in China. Wifi is included at airports, railway stations, food establishments, hotel rooms, etc. The only difficulty is that most networks require confirmation via a mobile phone with a Chinese SIM. Even if you have roaming enabled, you will not be able to enter the code. Alternatively, in a critical situation, you can seek help from locals and ask them to receive the code on their phone and inform you.
• 2. Many hotels have Wi-Fi with a password , and in hotels of large international chains it is sometimes distributed through routers with a VPN already installed. But this is a Chinese VPN, and the traffic is controlled, so it is better to download a reliable third-party VPN on your device. We recommend ExpressVPN.
• 3. Public transport may have Wi-Fi , but it is always confirmed via phone.
• 4. There are many Internet cafes on the streets , but don’t go there; access to the Internet through such cafes in China is not available to foreigners; they will only be allowed in with a Chinese ID card.
• 5.In cafes and on the streets, sometimes Wi-Fi is open or password-protected, but be careful: some of the networks are outright fraudulent, and the names can masquerade as official city networks. Through such networks, hackers connect to your device. It is imperative to enable a reliable VPN that encrypts and masks traffic! NordVPN has the highest encryption capabilities.

The optimal way to access the Internet in China for tourists from Russia is through a portable Wi-Fi router, for example 3gsolutions, which can be rented, and ordered with VPN already included (they use ExpressVPN, and this service is very popular according to reviews on TripAdvisor ).

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Internet speed in China

There are often complaints about poor internet in China. This is true to some extent, although it varies from region to region.

• In terms of average fixed connection speed, the continental part of the country ranks 20th in the world with an average of 80.44 Mbit/s. Well above the global average of 49.26 Mbps, but well behind the top six regions (including Hong Kong), which averaged around 100 Mbps.
• Average mobile internet speeds on the mainland are even worse, ranking 43rd on the list with an average speed of 30.3 Mbps or 3.79 MB/s.

Speed ​​test results in China without VPN enabled:

During peak times, Internet providers can artificially reduce the speed of information exchange by limiting the channel. By the way, a VPN eliminates these slowdowns, and despite the reduction in speed due to encryption, the connection can be even faster than the Chinese using the same network.

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Cost of communication services in roaming (without connecting to any packages)

So, before you start using roaming (Megafon) in China, before your trip you should familiarize yourself with the prices for communication services provided by local operators. We remind you that the cellular company enters into contracts with local organizations that are communication service providers, which, in turn, provide tourists with stable and high-quality communications. What is the cost of communication services?

• You can make a voice call for 129 rubles per minute of connection (this cost is valid both for calls to your country and for calls to local numbers);
• an incoming call will also cost 129 rubles per minute of communication;
• you can send a text message in any direction for twenty-five rubles;
• You can receive an incoming message for free (from any number).

Mobile Internet for tourists

Considering that broadband is also slow in the country (if you look at non-Chinese web pages), imagine how slow 3G and 4G are.

The table shows the Beijing tariffs of the three main suppliers.

As you can see from the table, there are no big differences between these three operators. In our experience, you should consider the following when choosing:

• China Mobile: This company has most of the stores and places where you can buy SIM cards and recharge cards (充值卡, Chōngzhí kǎ). countrywide. Recharge cards contain instructions on how to use them in Chinese and English on the back of the card.
• China Unicom: This company has a good network of stores in northern China, good compatibility with overseas phones, generally better data deals, and allows you to have multiple SIM cards associated with the same plan. However, you have to be careful with the fine print of the plans.
• China Telecom: This company is especially popular in the southern part of China and usually offers competitive rates for calls and internet. Be careful about compatibility with foreign smartphones.

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How to use mobile internet in China

You can purchase a SIM card at branded points of sale ( you will need a passport ). You need to select a tariff plan and the amount by which you want to top up your account. 150 - 250 yuan should be enough to purchase a number, data and call plan, and leave a certain amount to make calls.

If you don’t want to waste time searching for a store and trying to find mutual understanding with the seller, you can always try to buy a SIM card online. Below are some of the best options:

To turn on or change your data plan, you can either visit your phone company's point of sale and get them to activate it for you, or contact their representatives at the information number (all have customer service available in English):

• China Mobile: 10086
• Unicom: 10010
• Telecom: 10001

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Closed Internet: regulation and restrictions

The country's government uses sophisticated software to block various services. The list of blocked resources includes YouTube, Google services, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and others.

Please note that blocks change daily . You may have to try different locations and protocols until you find one that works. Sometimes you will find that nothing works at all. Unfortunately, this is normal.

You can use a VPN service such as ExpressVPN, NordVPN, or VyprVPN to avoid firewall restrictions. Many other VPN services are currently 100% blocked without a single working server .

You can check the comparitech.com website to see if a particular site is currently blocked in major regions. You can figure out which apps are not working by testing their main website.

Which sites are banned in China

Technically, most disabled resources are not prohibited. We mean that you will not have problems with the authorities if you simply communicate with friends on social networks, look through your Instagram feed, use email. The Internet in China is available to tourists from Russia via VPN, and the government is not yet able to ban VPNs completely.

However, you should not search the Internet for information about 18+ content, drugs and political events on the Chinese Internet, or post photographs or videos that express a negative attitude towards the ruling regime. Or you should have the most reliable VPN possible.

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Alternative to blocked sites

In situations where a trip requires a long-term stay abroad, and there is no opportunity to use familiar sites, you can replace them with similar ones.

• Sina Weibo is a Chinese social network that allows you to send messages and leave posts.
• WeChat – A messaging service that can be used to pay in an online store, but this requires card registration.
• Tencent QQ – Social network similar to Twitter. You can chat with friends and listen to music on it.
• QZone – A service that provides the ability to create personal blogs.

How to connect the Internet at home

If you are traveling for a long time, you may want to order wired internet. While there is a wide choice of broadband providers, in fact it turns out that three state-owned companies, China Unicom, Mobile and Telecom, monopolize services in the country.

Small firms use infrastructure created by state-owned companies (usually China Telecom), and, for some reason, non-Chinese sites open even slower. Small cafes are usually connected to such providers, and so it can be difficult to do anything online while connected to their Wi-Fi.

There are certain exceptions, such as 华 Gehua, a firm that sells cable TV and internet services (you can only get internet if you want). Typically offers relatively fast connections.

How to negotiate an Internet connection in China?

It's really easy, just go to the nearest store (you can ask the owner where it is) with your passport and money and say that you want to connect to the internet. You can also leave a request on websites (often they are only available in Chinese). You may need a router with a VPN, these can be purchased with ExpressVPN pre-installed.

We reduce the cost of voice services

The operator offers several options for reducing costs - roaming abroad. The subscriber can enable/disable the proposed operations independently. Let's take a closer look at what cost optimization options can be used:

1. "Whole World" option. When activating this service, the subscriber will receive 40 free incoming minutes every day. In this case, 59 rubles will be debited from the account daily. Upon arrival in the Russian Federation, you must forcefully disable the service, otherwise the subscriber. the fee will continue to be charged.
2. Option "25 World". When connecting, the client is given 25 minutes of free incoming and outgoing calls. According to the terms of the option, the subscription fee will not be charged. Instead, at the moment of connecting the service, 829 rubles will be deducted from the balance.
3. Option "50 World". The operating principle of this service is similar to that described earlier. The only difference is the number of minutes. The cost of this option for optimizing roaming costs is 1,429 rubles.

How much does home internet cost?

Rates vary depending on the speed, region and city, the provider you choose, the period for which you are paying, and some other factors. Here are examples of the cost of services in Beijing at the beginning of 2021:

Important: Typically, your actual speed will be significantly less than the speed you purchase. When paying for 100 Mbit/s, expect 10-20 Mbit/s in reality.

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How to communicate from China to Russia via the Internet

Internet users in China communicate with users in other countries primarily through VPNs. Because VPN makes it possible to launch and use all instant messengers and social networks known to us, as well as make calls via Whatsapp, Viber, Telegram or Skype absolutely free.

This is not a free VPN - but the service usually costs no more than $13 in monthly packages, and if you buy for a long time, you can find plans that cost about $3 per month. On average - about $6-7 per month, if you take a package for a year. This is generally not much for the fact that you will have a fast connection, both on mobile and laptops, access to Netflix, etc. And also - all your data will be protected from surveillance and hacking.

The good news is that you can pay for the services of a top VPN with a minimum tariff plan, and before 30 days have passed, request a refund from support, and it turns out that you used one of the best VPNs for free. It works!

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How does blocking occur?

The public became aware of the blocking system from Russian specialists hired by the company responsible for the development of the Golden Shield. Experts could not reveal all the secrets, since foreigners are not allowed into some systems, but the following is known:

• The work of protection technology in China is based on three programs: DPI, Connection probe, SVM.
• DPI or Deep Pocket Inspection blocks websites by analyzing the content of file packets and their headers. To put it simply, this is a familiar firewall that works constantly.
• Connection probe monitors user requests to connect to blocked resources.
• SVI Support vector machines is a system for re-filtering files uploaded to the network.
• In China, a government organization has been created that includes several million employees who constantly scan the information field for signs of prohibited content.
• Those whose statements could harm the regime are blocked or even prosecuted. So, if one article discrediting officials appears on an information portal, the resource will simply be politely asked to remove the material. But if the direction of the site does not entirely comply with the requirements, in addition to blocking, criminal prosecution of the owner may begin.
• Experts argue that in order to also control the information space, other states will need years and multimillion-dollar investments.