Enterprise connectivity in China
Connecting China to the World
Running a global network that includes China is often a complex challenge for your enterprise IT.
Regulatory restrictions, domestic-only carrier limitations, unpredictable cross-border latency, and restricted access to international cloud platforms make it uniquely difficult to maintain the performance and compliance standards your business demands.
This is where we come in. At GNX, we design and deliver cross-border connectivity solutions for enterprises with sites, data centers, and cloud environments in China, whether you're operating in Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Chengdu, or across multiple locations. Our goal is simple: seamless, compliant connectivity between your China operations and the rest of the world. And without the complexity of managing multiple local vendors.
The China connectivity challenge
Regulatory controls limit or block access to commonly used international SaaS applications, collaboration tools, and websites, affecting collaboration and productivity for employees both inside and outside China.
Content filtering, IP blocking, and routing inefficiencies at the border introduce latency spikes and packet loss that degrade application performance and disrupt real-time communications.
Enterprises using AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud face unique challenges in China, where international versions of these platforms are restricted, and China-local equivalents operate under separate infrastructure and compliance requirements.
China's network market is dominated by three state-owned carriers, each operating largely separate national backbones. Without the right architecture, traffic between carriers incurs additional latency and inconsistent quality.
Enterprises must navigate ICP licensing, MLPS (Multi-Level Protection Scheme) requirements, and other local obligations. Getting connectivity right means staying compliant — not just connected.
Connectivity solutions in China
GNX eliminates these barriers with tailored global connectivity solutions: from leveraging domestic options and combining them with a private solution to establishing a dedicated line between your sites in China and the world. Whichever the case, our goal is to design the right architecture for your specific footprint, applications, and compliance requirements.
China Premium Internet
Private P2P circuit from your site to (in most cases) Hong Kong or Singapore, where international IP transit is picked up. Bypasses the domestic congestion.
Hybrid domestic + private WAN
A single circuit carrying domestic AND premium traffic segments. Route per-destination: local apps over domestic, SaaS and cloud over premium.
P2P to DC (hub & spoke)
Domestic service at each China site, plus a private circuit into your hub (APAC and/or EMEA) for IPT, cloud peering or DC access. Best for multi-site deployments.
High-availability, low-latency connectivity optimises application performance for users in both China and abroad.
GNX solutions provide the sweet spot between regulatory compliance and best possible connectivity.
Consolidate all network services under a single provider, one contract, one invoice, reducing the complexity of managing multiple vendors.
Achieve immediate savings, both in procurement resources and service costs, without compromising the performance of your networks.
With years of supporting enterprises in China, we can design and deliver complex and large connectivity projects, even in the most challenging scenarios.
GNX is a very flexible Company which can quickly bring new services to the table to help to close a gap. They act in a direct way, very customer oriented.
Solution Architect in the IT Services industry
White paper: The key to seamless internet access in China
A deep dive into the challenges of China's internet landscape, its impact, and a practical guide towards the best solution for your business.
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FAQ for enterprise connectivity in China
How do enterprises get reliable internet connectivity in China?
Internet in China is as good as anywhere else. Issues normally arise when needing cross-border connectivity. The most reliable approach for enterprise connectivity in China combines domestic access from one of China's major carriers with a private cross-border circuit that bypasses the congestion and unpredictability of the public internet at the border. GNX designs and delivers this hybrid architecture, tailored to your specific locations, applications, and compliance requirements.
Is it legal for enterprises to use private network solutions to bypass China's internet restrictions?
No. However, with the right setup, enterprises in China can legally use licensed cross-border private circuits and compliant network solutions to connect their local operations to international sites and cloud environments. These solutions differ from consumer VPNs, which operate in a legal grey area. GNX solutions are designed for full regulatory compliance. We recommend always working with a provider that understands the local regulatory landscape.
What is MLPS and does it affect my enterprise network in China?
MLPS (Multi-Level Protection Scheme) is China's cybersecurity framework that classifies information systems into security tiers and mandates specific protections for each. Any enterprise operating an information system in China (i.e. networks, cloud environments, and data centers) is potentially subject to MLPS obligations. GNX designs connectivity solutions that account for MLPS compliance requirements from the outset, reducing your regulatory risk.
Can I connect my China offices to AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud?
This depends on which region of these platforms you're using. AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud operate separate China-local regions that require separate accounts and comply with local regulations. Access to international regions of these platforms from within China is restricted. GNX can provide connectivity to China-local cloud regions and, where applicable and compliant, cross-border access to international cloud environments with great latency and reliability.
How does SD-WAN work in China, and what underlay do I need?
SD-WAN can work effectively in China, but the underlay is everything. Standard (domestic) internet-based underlays suffer from the same cross-border latency, packet loss, and reliability issues that affect any traffic crossing the Chinese border. GNX provides a compliant, high-performance underlay, combining domestic carrier access with a private cross-border layer, that gives your SD-WAN or SASE solution the stable foundation it needs to deliver consistent application performance across your China and international sites.
What are the main causes of high latency between China and international locations?
Cross-border latency in China typically stems from: (1) content filtering and deep packet inspection at the network border, (2) routing inefficiencies between domestic carrier backbones and international networks, (3) physical distance and limited international gateway capacity, and (4) congestion on public internet peering points. A private cross-border circuit avoids most of these issues by bypassing the public internet entirely for inter-site traffic.
What are the causes of bandwidth issues in China?
Bandwidth constraints in China typically come down to how traffic moves between the major domestic networks: (1) interconnection between the large national carriers happens at a limited number of peering points, (2) some of these peering points are congested, particularly during peak hours, which throttles effective throughput even when local access capacity is high, and (3) performance therefore depends heavily on which network your traffic originates from and terminates on. Choosing the right network and understanding the path your traffic actually takes is key.
How long does it take to deploy enterprise connectivity in China?
Lead times vary depending on the solution type, locations, and carrier availability. Standard business broadband or DIA services in major cities like Shanghai or Beijing can be provisioned in 4–8 weeks. Dedicated private circuits or more complex architectures typically take 8–16 weeks. GNX manages the full delivery process, including coordination with local carriers and regulatory requirements, to keep deployments on track.
Can GNX manage connectivity across multiple cities in China under one contract?
Yes. This is one of GNX's core strengths. Whether you have sites in two cities or in twenty countries, GNX consolidates all your internet services into a single contract, single invoice, and one point of support. What’s more, it’s all visible from our automated platform, GNX+. This significantly reduces procurement complexity and operational overhead for enterprise IT teams.
What's the difference between China Telecom, China Unicom, and China Mobile for enterprise connectivity?
All three are state-owned carriers operating largely separate national backbone networks, each with different strengths by geography and use case. At GNX, we work with all three, and we will evaluate them based on your specific locations and performance requirements. And often combine them to ensure redundancy and optimal routing.
Does GNX support connectivity to Alibaba Cloud in China?
Yes. GNX supports connectivity to Alibaba Cloud's China regions, as well as cross-border connectivity to Alibaba Cloud's international regions where applicable. We can design dedicated or hybrid connectivity to your cloud environment, ensuring consistent performance and compliance with local requirements.
