| Is GPRS Wireless Internet Service available in China? | |
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| Jun 18, 2007 09:13 |   |
 | Is GPRS Wireless Internet Service available in China? The question was asked in another thread. If it is available, what is the coverage? Only major cities or everywhere there is cellular telephone service? ...and how much does it cost? |
| Jun 18, 2007 11:10 | #1 |
| Hi You read my mind, I am really interesting in finding this out as well. I have browsed the interent, and found a "Coverage Map" from the provider "China Mobile" http://www.gsmworld.com/ I am not sure how accurate this is, maybe someone who knows it from experience can update us. I did read a thread about someone travelling from Peking to Tibet, and he/she said there was a fellow Chinese traveller in the same cabin receiving constant SMS messages along the whole way. This suggests there is cell coverage, but unsure still about the GPRS coverage. Sorry for hijacking your thread, I am just too curious also to find this out, Cheers Ben |
| Jun 18, 2007 19:11 | #2 |
| ...it didn't strike me as a threadjack... Hopefully, someone will know. :) |
| Jun 19, 2007 07:24 | #3 |
| yes in fact the major cities as like Guangzhou, shanghai, beijing, even xiamen etc have already 3G services - which is even higher level than GPRS. |
| Jun 19, 2007 14:07 | #4 |
| Hi Betweenus21 Do you happen to know if PrePaid cards with SIM card are available in China? If so, which provider? And what does it take for me to buy one? ID, other papers, etc. 3G sounds excellent. Where 3G is not available, is there GPRS instead? Maybe even EDGE (Double-triple speed GPRS, but same standard) ? This website claims to sell PrePaid SIM cards for China with GPRS availability. It costs 35USD for the sim card, and then you/we need the Topup card, which costs 15USD for the smallest one. There are plans for GPRS on this website as well, not sure what they charge over the regular price that you pay in a local store, might be worth to look into. http://www.china-mobile-phones.com/ Any info will help, thanks Ben |
| Jun 20, 2007 00:14 | #5 |
| yes Prepaid cards with sim cards are easily available from the many phone shops or even at 711s or its local equivalent - prices generally are rmb50 to rmb100 with talktime for "roaming " within china - but however there are many plans like just within the privince ie like guangdong area only etc which costs less. So it depends - however for foreigners would advice to go for one where it is able to roam within all china altho its costs somewhat more in the region of rmb 100 upwards. In any case too, most of these prepaid cards are already GPRS or 2.5G standard. However do note that most of these domestic cards cannot be used for sending out sms overseas or receive overseas smses. |
| Jun 20, 2007 04:14 | #6 |
| Thanks, So we have established that the possibility of purchasing a pre-paid SIM card with some topoff card is not that difficult. Now the next thing, very important thing to find out is the Coverage of GPRS in China. GRIZ326 would also like to find this out, I am guessing just in general throughout China, and if someone can help me on the Guangzhou - Xian - Peking - Guangzhou line (by train), that would be extremely helpful. I am sure I am not the only person who needs internet on the train. Thanks Ben |
| Jun 20, 2007 09:20 | #7 |
| In some areas you will need to provide an id.... Hebei province for example. In theory your passport will do, but I failed and had to get a friend to buy it. Guangdong, it's no different from buying a cup of coffee. The pre paid plans also differ between provinces... some include a fee for each call received. Also, they all charge more for out of local area calls... whether it is to a person registered or temporarily in another area, or if you are out of home area. Some plans are better for travellers, others for thos who are just using it locally. Best if you can get a knowledgeable local to help. |
| Jun 20, 2007 12:52 | #8 |
| Dear Apault, Thanks for your ideas, it helps, as I will buy mine in Guangdong province, in Guangzhou city. Hope the plans there are good. Any possibility or chance to find a person speaking english at one of these Mobile Phone counters? Another thing I/we are still looking for is the actual GPRS coverage. Thanks Ben |
| Jun 21, 2007 05:13 | #9 |
| hi bence, ok since u r buying the prepaid card in Guangzhou city itself; there should not be any problem - its advisable to get china mobile card and with roaming within China - prices starts at rmb150 - or there are other types but maybe limited in coverage somewhat. Do not think u should be too preoccupied ith GPRS coverage as from Guangzhou down to shenhzen and in fact the greater part of most cities; its essentially already GPRS covered - so u need not be concerned with it - and also if u r sending sms or mms - there's no probelm at all. |
| Jun 21, 2007 08:44 | #10 |
| Hi Betweenus. I am not really concerned about the GPRS coverage in the cities, but between them. From Guangzhou to Xian I have lets say 18 hours or so on the train, and we will pass through the countryside. That is the main part where I will need GPRS, as in cities I can hop in to an internet cafe and get my tasks done quick, but of course I prefer to do it through my laptop and GPRS. Do you have any information on how good/bad is GPRS coverage in rural areas? On another note, this is what I got from a representative at www.pandasim.com ################################# Dear Benedik: Most China SIM card is GPRS enabled, just as matter of rate is quite expensive: GPRS Rates Monthly fee Traffict include(MB) Extra Traffict（RMB/KB） Standard Rates 0 0 0.04 10RMB package 10 10 0.02 20RMB package 20 50 0.02 100RMB package 100 800 0.02 250RMB package 250 2000 0.02 at most 650RMB/month For unlimited usage, you can pay 650RMB ($86) per month, there is no weekly unlimited usage package. ############################### This is if I buy the prepaid through them. I feel the 250RMB package would fit my bill, its probably impossible to use up all the 2000MBs in just one week, but I will also do some call-receiving, which I heard has a charge in China. So this sounds good to me, but still unaware of the GPRS coverage in China specially in rural areas? Isnt there a Map that shows this? I cannot find it in English, and I cannot read/write Chinese, so my browsing skills are limited, Thanks Ben |
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