• China’s Hainan province launches pilot program granting businesses China Great Firewall exemption through “Global Connect” service
• The initiative supports the island’s ongoing transformation into a global free-trade port

China’s southernmost province is taking rare steps toward digital openness with a pilot program offering an exemption from China’s Great Firewall to select businesses, marking a significant departure from the country’s typically restrictive internet policies as Hainan positions itself as a global free-trade hub.

The “Global Connect” scheme, administered through the Hainan International Data Comprehensive Service Centre (HIDCSC), allows employees of companies registered and operating in Hainan to bypass China’s notorious internet censorship system. 

This represents one of the most substantial moves toward unrestricted internet access in a country known for maintaining some of the world’s strictest online controls.

Limited but notable access

Under the program, eligible users can access previously blocked platforms, including Google, Wikipedia, YouTube, X, and TikTok at no additional cost. However, the exemption comes with caveats – certain content will remain restricted, though HIDCSC staff declined to specify which websites would still be off-limits.

The application process reflects China’s characteristic bureaucratic complexity. Employees must maintain 5G plans with one of three state-backed carriers – China Mobile, China Unicom, or China Telecom – and submit comprehensive employer information, including the company’s Unified Social Credit Code. 

The approval process can extend up to five months, according to HIDCSC representatives.

“There are currently no restrictions on company size or business scope, and the service has attracted significant business interest,” an HIDCSC representative told the South China Morning Post, speaking anonymously as they were not authorised to discuss the program publicly.

Strategic timing amid free-trade ambitions

The pilot program’s launch comes as Hainan approaches a critical milestone in its free-trade port development. The province is preparing to implement independent customs operations by year’s end, representing a key step in Beijing’s broader strategy to establish Hainan as China’s premier free-trade zone.

This digital liberalisation effort addresses long-standing challenges faced by international businesses operating in China. While multinational corporations and local companies with global operations have typically secured special internet access arrangements, individual users have largely relied on virtual private networks (VPNs) – many of which operate in legal gray areas.

The unauthorised use of VPNs to circumvent the Great Firewall remains illegal in China, though government-approved VPN services have been available for corporate use. Cheaper, unauthorised alternatives continue to see widespread usage despite regulatory restrictions.

Broader implications for China’s digital policy

HIDCSC already provides similar services to corporate clients, particularly e-commerce firms targeting overseas markets. However, the “Global Connect” program represents a more systematic approach to addressing internet access limitations that have historically complicated international business operations in China.

The initiative challenges previous speculation about potential Great Firewall modifications in free-trade zones. While rumors have circulated for years about possible exemptions in special economic areas, such changes have largely failed to materialise, making Hainan’s pilot program a notable exception to China’s usual approach.

Measured expectations

Despite the program’s significance, its scope remains limited. The exemption applies only to select business users rather than general internet access, and the retention of unspecified content restrictions suggests Beijing’s continued commitment to maintaining information control mechanisms.

The program also reflects China’s ongoing balancing act between economic openness and information security concerns. Authorities have long justified internet restrictions by citing needs to prevent the spread of what they characterise as illicit or dangerous information.

As Hainan continues developing its free-trade port infrastructure, the success of this digital exemption pilot could influence similar policies in other Chinese special economic zones. 

However, the program’s limited scope and bureaucratic requirements suggest that any broader expansion of internet access will likely remain carefully controlled and strategically targeted rather than representing fundamental shifts in China’s approach to online censorship.