To set up home internet in Shanghai you sign up with China Telecom, Unicom, or Mobile using your passport, a Chinese phone number, and your tenancy contract.
The short version. Any of Shanghai's three state carriers will get you online, and if your building is already wired for one, a technician can install within one to two days. You need a passport, a Chinese phone number in your own name and your tenancy contract. Home broadband is sold as a prepaid annual bundle with the router included, roughly 600 to 2,400 RMB a year depending on speed, and cheaper again if you bundle it with a mobile plan.
Good to know
- Good for: anyone setting up a new Shanghai flat that has no working line yet.
- What you'll pay: about 600 to 2,400 RMB a year for the whole package, router included, paid up front by Alipay or WeChat Pay.
- Make the most of it: ask your landlord which carrier the flat is already wired for, so you get a same-week appointment instead of waiting on new cabling.
Moving into a new Shanghai apartment and staring at a dead wall socket where the internet should be? Here is the honest, step-by-step version of how home broadband actually works here, what it costs, and how to get a technician to your door within a day or two. No jargon, just the route I wish someone had walked me through my first week.
Which provider should I choose in Shanghai?
Three state carriers run home broadband here, and any of them will get you online: China Telecom (中国电信), China Unicom (中国联通), and China Mobile (中国移动). For most apartments inside the inner ring the practical differences are small, so the real deciding factors are which carrier already wires your building and which one you can communicate with.
- China Telecom has the widest fibre coverage in older Shanghai lane housing and a reputation for stable speeds.
- China Unicom tends to have the most patient English-friendly staff at its larger flagship stores, which matters if you are signing up solo.
- China Mobile often bundles broadband cheaply if you already hold one of their phone plans.
My tip: ask your landlord or building management which carrier the apartment is already wired for. Switching carriers can mean waiting for new cabling, while staying with the installed one usually means a same-week appointment.
What documents do I need to sign up?
Bring these to the carrier's shop, or have them ready for the agent who visits:
- Your passport with a valid visa or residence permit.
- A Chinese mobile number in your own name. Registration codes are sent by SMS, so you need this first. If you have not sorted a local number yet, start with our guide on getting a phone number in Shanghai.
- Proof of address, usually your tenancy contract. Some carriers also accept a utility bill in the landlord's name.
If you do not yet hold a residence permit, expect extra questions. A few branches ask for a Chinese guarantor or want the landlord present at sign-up, so it is worth having your landlord's phone number handy.
How much does home internet cost in Shanghai?
Home broadband here is almost always sold as a prepaid annual bundle rather than a rolling monthly bill, and a wifi router is normally included. Plans are tiered by speed, from 100 Mbps up to 1000 Mbps fibre, and the single biggest saving is bundling broadband with a mobile plan. Here is the honest range.
In US dollars, that is roughly 90 to 360 dollars a year for broadband alone, or 45 to 220 dollars bundled with a phone plan. Converted at about 6.74 RMB to the dollar, August 2026, so treat the dollars as a ballpark.
You pay the full year up front, settled easily through Alipay or WeChat Pay. If mobile-payment setup is still on your list, our walkthrough on paying bills in Shanghai covers the same apps you will use here, and if you are still finding your flat, start with renting in Shanghai without getting burned.
How do I book installation and what happens on the day?
- Sign up in person at a carrier shop, or ask a bilingual friend to call the carrier hotline for you: China Telecom 021-10000, China Unicom 021-10010, China Mobile 021-10086.
- Pick an install slot. A technician is usually scheduled within 24 to 48 hours.
- Be home for the visit. The technician runs or activates the fibre line, installs the router, and tests the connection. It normally takes under an hour.
- Save your account details. Note the account number and the wifi name and password before the technician leaves, and change the wifi password to something you choose.
A few things that trip people up
- The account is tied to your name and number. When you move out, cancel or transfer it rather than leaving it running.
- Renewal is on you. An annual plan lapses if you forget to top it up, so set a calendar reminder a couple of weeks before it expires.
- Router placement matters. Thick concrete walls in older Shanghai buildings eat signal. Ask the technician to place the router central, and buy a mesh extender online if a back bedroom stays weak. You can order one through our Taobao in English guide.
- Landlord-held accounts. Some furnished flats come with internet already in the landlord's name. Confirm whether it is included in your rent before signing up for your own line.
Common questions
Can I get internet without a Chinese phone number?
Not easily. Registration relies on an SMS code sent to a local number, so getting a Chinese SIM is the first step.
How fast can broadband be installed?
If your building is already wired for the carrier, a technician can often come within one to two days of sign-up.
Can I pay monthly instead of yearly?
Most home plans are sold as prepaid annual bundles. Monthly options exist but are less common and not always cheaper overall.
What if no one in the shop speaks English?
Bring a Chinese-speaking friend or colleague, or use a translation app. China Unicom's flagship stores tend to have the most English-comfortable staff.
Once the router lights turn green, you are set. Welcome to a very online city.
