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Always roam when in China for short trips. The way cellular networks work is that roaming plans tend to route back home, so that your access is unfiltered. The
by z2 7y ago
Always roam when in China for short trips. The way cellular networks work is that roaming plans tend to route back home, so that your access is unfiltered.
The plan could affect foreigners but it was hard for years already, in that most cellular stores require a Chinese ID to register monthly service (not all take passports). I used to get the salesperson or security guard to lend their ID in my stead, and this is exactly what this policy seems designed to prevent. Hotels and train stations have operated under facial authentication for a couple of years too for Chinese nationals. This seems to be along the same vein, to ensure the person is who the ID says they are. In other words, it's handing over the ID-checking from a person to an awkward police-sanctioned box.
- seanmcdirmid 7y agoThe China Mobile stands in the airport that sell SIMs take passports...you’ll find them in international baggage claim, and also in the terminal. I’ve only successfully roamed with T-mobile on WiFi. Maybe its better now?
- CharlesColeman 7y ago> I’ve only successfully roamed with T-mobile on WiFi. Maybe its better now? I roamed on T-Mobile pretty successfully using a cell connection last year, but I had to buy a $20 1G data pass and some other passes for it to work. It was worth it for the reliable unfiltered internet access. My current T-Mobile One plan was worse for this than my old grandfathered (Select Choice?) plan, which could limp along at 2G speeds out of the box and only needed the data pass for usable speed.
- z2 7y agoGood point, the ones at airports could more readily support passports, as opposed to a street-side authorized (or grey market) shop. More recently I've used Google Fi, which has the benefit of roaming on both Unicom and Mobile depending on signal strength, in addition to full internet access.
- chillacy 7y agoIt is pretty slow though. The most comfortable thing I've found is buying a China Unicom or China Mobile SIM card in Hong Kong which lets you access full speed, uncensored internet in mainland China.