Foreign SIMs and Great Firewall
Oct 12, 2017, 3:43 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 126
Foreign SIMs and Great Firewall
If I visit China and just use data roaming on my UK SIM, do the Great Firewall restrictions apply?
I have been looking at getting a Hong Kong cross-border SIM, as I understand that these then avoid censorship without the need for a VPN. (Correct?). Is this unique to HK SIMs or does this apply to any foreign SIMs?
Sorry for what is probably quite a basic question but there is so much confusing and contradictory information online.
I have been looking at getting a Hong Kong cross-border SIM, as I understand that these then avoid censorship without the need for a VPN. (Correct?). Is this unique to HK SIMs or does this apply to any foreign SIMs?
Sorry for what is probably quite a basic question but there is so much confusing and contradictory information online.
Oct 12, 2017, 10:21 am
#3
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: SIN / SFO
Programs: UA GS, SQ PPS, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Accor Gold
Posts: 1,215
Roaming bypasses the GFW—you'll still have a UK IP if you're using a UK SIM, and all traffic is routed directly through your home carrier.
Oct 21, 2017, 6:34 am
#6
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 380
Yes, I used a Thai SIM card in China this summer and had no problem accessing Google, Facebook or Instagram.
Highly recommended to get a foreign SIM and any foreign SIM will work.
I bought the Thai one in Hong Kong as it was far cheaper than the HK cross-border SIMs.
From memory it cost 88 HKD for 8 days and 4GB of 4G + unlimited at 128 kbps..
Highly recommended to get a foreign SIM and any foreign SIM will work.
I bought the Thai one in Hong Kong as it was far cheaper than the HK cross-border SIMs.
From memory it cost 88 HKD for 8 days and 4GB of 4G + unlimited at 128 kbps..
Oct 21, 2017, 12:35 pm
#7
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: HHonors Gold, Marriott Lifetime Gold, IHG Gold, OZ*G, AA Gold, AS MVP
Posts: 1,874
The only thing to keep in mind is, if the Thai one is the one I'm thinking of, then it works with the China Mobile network. Not everyone's phones works well with their network, but I think that one is definitely a better value than the China Mobile HK SIMs.
Oct 21, 2017, 7:24 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Earth. Residency:HKG formerly:YYZ
Programs: CX, DL, Nexus/GE, APEC
Posts: 10,685
Yes, I used a Thai SIM card in China this summer and had no problem accessing Google, Facebook or Instagram.
Highly recommended to get a foreign SIM and any foreign SIM will work.
I bought the Thai one in Hong Kong as it was far cheaper than the HK cross-border SIMs.
From memory it cost 88 HKD for 8 days and 4GB of 4G + unlimited at 128 kbps..
Highly recommended to get a foreign SIM and any foreign SIM will work.
I bought the Thai one in Hong Kong as it was far cheaper than the HK cross-border SIMs.
From memory it cost 88 HKD for 8 days and 4GB of 4G + unlimited at 128 kbps..
However, there are some issues of the support of your phone and frequencies with their local roaming partner. I heard of people with US phones not getting connected.
Support is good if you speak Thai.
Dec 23, 2017, 8:51 am
#9
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Haining (1 hr from Shanghai) China
Programs: DL DM, AA Lifetime Plat, IHG SE
Posts: 1,466
I am quite sure what is happening is the Great Firewall of China sees that you are a foreign SIM card, and does not enforce the restrictions.
Of course, this is all academic, the only thing that matters is when you use your foreign SIM card for GPRS internet, there are no restrictions. But as soon as you switch over to Wi-Fi inside China, you are restricted unless at a few select foreign hotels like a Marriott in Shanghai.
Dec 25, 2017, 11:26 pm
#10
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Seat 1A
Programs: Non-status paid F/J (best value for $$$)
Posts: 4,124
When roaming, I always go to www.whatismyipaddress.com
Every time I do this, it shows the IP address for the service provider in my home country and not of the country that I am roaming in.
Roaming data traffic is always "tunneled" back to the home country's service provider before being sent out into the public internet.
Every time I do this, it shows the IP address for the service provider in my home country and not of the country that I am roaming in.
Roaming data traffic is always "tunneled" back to the home country's service provider before being sent out into the public internet.
Dec 26, 2017, 8:19 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Earth. Residency:HKG formerly:YYZ
Programs: CX, DL, Nexus/GE, APEC
Posts: 10,685
When roaming, I always go to www.whatismyipaddress.com
Every time I do this, it shows the IP address for the service provider in my home country and not of the country that I am roaming in.
Roaming data traffic isalways mostly "tunneled" back to the home country's service provider before being sent out into the public internet.
Every time I do this, it shows the IP address for the service provider in my home country and not of the country that I am roaming in.
Roaming data traffic is
Last edited by tentseller; Dec 26, 2017 at 8:24 am
Dec 28, 2017, 6:05 am
#12
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Haining (1 hr from Shanghai) China
Programs: DL DM, AA Lifetime Plat, IHG SE
Posts: 1,466
When roaming, I always go to www.whatismyipaddress.com
Every time I do this, it shows the IP address for the service provider in my home country and not of the country that I am roaming in.
Roaming data traffic is always "tunneled" back to the home country's service provider before being sent out into the public internet.
Every time I do this, it shows the IP address for the service provider in my home country and not of the country that I am roaming in.
Roaming data traffic is always "tunneled" back to the home country's service provider before being sent out into the public internet.
my home wi-fi shows my exact Chinese city location, turn off Wi-Fi and revert to LTE and now it shows at Pico Rivera, CA, ISP is T-Mobile USA.
I never imagined.... I thought of it as a type of VPN but reality is, it is a VPN.
Dec 28, 2017, 8:42 pm
#13
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Seat 1A
Programs: Non-status paid F/J (best value for $$$)
Posts: 4,124
Didn't know that! Just checked with my t-mobile US back up SIM card, I am in China now.
my home wi-fi shows my exact Chinese city location, turn off Wi-Fi and revert to LTE and now it shows at Pico Rivera, CA, ISP is T-Mobile USA.
I never imagined.... I thought of it as a type of VPN but reality is, it is a VPN.
my home wi-fi shows my exact Chinese city location, turn off Wi-Fi and revert to LTE and now it shows at Pico Rivera, CA, ISP is T-Mobile USA.
I never imagined.... I thought of it as a type of VPN but reality is, it is a VPN.
Jan 1, 2018, 6:13 pm
#14
Join Date: May 2009
Location: LON
Programs: BAEC GGL; KLM Gold; AC 50K
Posts: 147
I am in China every month. I use a China Unicom HK Cross Border King SIM, and it is not subject to GWoC blocking. More often than not, your IP (whilst on mobile data) is that of the APN server configured on your phone, so most likely the SIM card's home country IP.
Jan 2, 2018, 11:05 pm
#15
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: HKG
Posts: 1,314
If I visit China and just use data roaming on my UK SIM, do the Great Firewall restrictions apply?
I have been looking at getting a Hong Kong cross-border SIM, as I understand that these then avoid censorship without the need for a VPN. (Correct?). Is this unique to HK SIMs or does this apply to any foreign SIMs?
I have been looking at getting a Hong Kong cross-border SIM, as I understand that these then avoid censorship without the need for a VPN. (Correct?). Is this unique to HK SIMs or does this apply to any foreign SIMs?