Firebase Solutions for China

Introduction

If you’re seeking solutions to make Firebase and its full services work in China, this post is tailored to address your questions and help you navigate the journey. We understand that expanding to China can be challenging, and our mission is to bridge that gap. Our founder has personally experienced the struggles of getting apps and technologies functioning in China, which took years to accomplish. However, we firmly believe that any team can achieve the same, allowing you to focus your energy on enhancing features and satisfying your customers, rather than resolving cross-border issues with your tech provider (Firebase or Google).

As of the time of writing this post, Google and Firebase’s full services do not have support for China, even for enterprise customers, and there are no plans to provide such support. Considering China’s status as one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, overlooking this market is not a wise decision. We understand that we share this perspective, which is why you are reading this post in search of assistance. We are here to help you embark on your journey in China, offering you a competitive edge by seamlessly bringing Firebase to China without requiring changes to your existing code.

Challenges of Companies Using Firebase in China

After consulting with over a hundred companies in this space, the most common question we hear is:

We don't want to have everything separated for China. Is there a way to make Firebase work in China?

We recognize that maintaining separate copies of code, databases, technologies, and web apps for China and the rest of the world is a headache for architects. Everyone desires simple solutions because they are easier to manage. Having two separate systems essentially means constantly searching for “alternatives for X” in China, which may not exist or may be too niche.

Even if you manage to find alternatives, it creates additional challenges. Supporting both systems requires changing the code, leading to duplicated bugs and increased complexity.

For those new to this topic or currently exploring the problem, it’s important to note that Firebase and its full services are blocked in China. In fact, all Google services are blocked as well.

Not to mention, the regulatory landscape can be daunting.

Since 2019, Apple has closely collaborated with the Chinese government to remove apps from the China App Store that lack the proper licenses. For example, obtaining a Software Copyright Certificate (SCC) Filing and complying with the China Personal Information Protection Law (China PIPL) are necessary steps. Many companies are unprepared for this, and the process can be time-consuming, especially for first-time applicants.

If you plan to publish a game in China, acquiring a “Game License ISBN” is also essential, with an average wait time of six months or potentially longer. If you’re uncertain about your company’s requirements, we offer a free consultation service to help you understand the necessary licenses and guide you through the process of launching your apps in China.

Keep in mind that China has a population of 1.4 billion, three times that of the United States and significantly larger than the EU population. Given the rapid growth of China over the past decade, the government regularly updates regulations and policies to keep pace with development and ensure control. This means being prepared to adapt to changes. We continuously translate and update Chinese government documentation, hosting it on our website under “Government Docs,” to help our readers stay informed.

You Need a Reliable Partner for Success in China

China presents an enormous market opportunity, where enterprises can often achieve a 5-10x return on investment within just a few years. While this prospect is undoubtedly enticing, entering the Chinese market and ensuring that your technology and compliance requirements are met is not as straightforward as it may seem. We have witnessed both success stories and cautionary tales, and our aim is to help you avoid costly mistakes and gain the confidence to navigate the Chinese market effectively.

Since 2019, our team of experts has been supporting numerous Fortune 500 companies, empowering them to expand their reach and enhance team productivity in China without the need to change their existing habits or technical stack.

Expanding Your Reach in China with Confidence: Seamlessly Integrate Firebase

Have you ever wondered if there was a way to make Firebase seamlessly work in China without having to modify your existing Firebase code?

This is the ideal solution we've been searching for all these years!

exclaimed numerous CTOs during our consulting calls.

We are excited to introduce this groundbreaking solution to more companies. If you’re interested in learning more or arranging demos for your team, reach out to us to gain access. Please note that currently, we can only accommodate 4 demos per week for this exceptional solution.

To provide you with a comprehensive understanding of how our solution works, we have prepared a step-by-step walkthrough:

1. Sign up for an account.

2. To comply with China’s stringent security laws, we will conduct a thorough security assessment of your backend infrastructure.

3. Once completed, we will provide you with code snippets that seamlessly integrate with your iOS and Android apps. Here’s a sample Swift code for iOS:

// AppDelegate.swift
@UIApplicationMain
class AppDelegate: UIResponder, UIApplicationDelegate {

    var window: UIWindow?

    func application(_ application: UIApplication, didFinishLaunchingWithOptions launchOptions: [UIApplication.LaunchOptionsKey: Any]?) -> Bool {
        // ✅ Add this line to configure the tunnel
        YBTunnel.configure()
        return true
    }
}

// In your UIViewController.swift
class VPNViewController: UIViewController {
    // other properties and methods
    private let neExtension = NetworkExtension()
    
    override func viewDidLoad() {
        super.viewDidLoad()

        //  ✅ Prepare for connections.
        Task {
            await neExtension.prepare()
        }
    }
}

This code snippet provides insights into the minimal code required to enable Firebase functionality in China. With this tunnel setup, your Firebase services and data will be securely and privately transmitted through the tunnel.

The remaining portions of your code will remain unchanged. You may choose to handle specific scenarios, such as when to establish a tunnel connection and when not to use the tunnel. However, the provided code is more than sufficient to demonstrate the implementation process.

It’s important to note that this solution is specifically designed for mainland China, while the existing Firebase coverage continues to work seamlessly in the rest of the world.

4. Publish your apps on the iOS and Android app stores, incorporating the 21YunBox Acceleration Suite.

By leveraging our solution, we enable your app to establish a direct tunnel connecting your users in China to Firebase services using the 21YunBox Acceleration Suite. Moreover, our solution goes beyond Firebase, allowing you to customize access to content specific to your app. Simply sign up and inform our staff about your required access, and they will be delighted to assist you throughout the process.