Hainan Island Pilots Global Internet Access, Bypassing the Great Firewall

China's Hainan province is piloting a program granting select corporate users broad access to the global internet, a rare move given China's strict online censorship. This initiative aims to attract international businesses as Hainan develops into a global free-trade port. Employees of registered Hainan companies can apply for the "Global Connect" mobile service through the Hainan International Data Comprehensive Service Centre, bypassing the Great Firewall to access sites like Google and Wikipedia. Applicants need a 5G plan with a major carrier and must submit company information; approval can take up to five months. Approved users get global internet access at no extra cost. Currently, there are no restrictions on company size or business scope, and the program has generated significant interest.