E-Sports Hotels, Internet Cafés and Homestays: Real-Name Authentication & Logging for Public Internet Access Venues

E-sports hotels, internet cafés and homestays differ greatly in business model, yet they share one key definition under Public Security Order No.176: all qualify as public internet service providers, one of the eight inspected categories listed in Article 6. Whenever internet access is offered to unspecified members of the public, real-name authentication and log retention are mandatory requirements, not optional extras.

1. Why These Venues Are High-Priority Inspection Targets

Public internet venues feature high visitor turnover and frequent terminal changes, making them typical hotspots for missing real-name records and incomplete audit logs.
During cybersecurity defence campaigns in 2026, multiple e-sports hotels received warnings for inadequate technical protection and failure to record cybersecurity event logs. Some properties were ordered to rectify non-compliance when guest Wi-Fi operated without real-name verification and logs were retained for less than six months. Trendy, youth-oriented businesses are particularly vulnerable to online remote inspections and professional complaint reports.

2. Unique Challenges Faced by Homestays and Internet Cafés

Most homestays use residential broadband installed directly by the host, with no dedicated IT staff and basic networking hardware. Internet cafés, by contrast, have large numbers of PCs and scattered user accounts, generating massive log volumes.

They share the same core pain point: the ISP ONT or consumer router has no native real-name authentication or logging capability. Manual registration or unmanaged routing cannot build a complete, traceable audit trail. E-sports hotels carry an extra requirement: linking every gaming PC to its actual user.

3. One Cloud Plugin Solution for All Three Scenarios

AINOPOL’s cloud-based Portal for operators delivers multi-channel real-name authentication and four-tuple identity data recording. Cloud Audit associates browsing activities via Session ID and maintains rolling logs for no less than 180 days, with no local log server required on-site.

Whether it is a homestay, internet café or e-sports hotel, as long as the broadband egress exists, the plugin can be deployed together with broadband activation. Authentication and audit logging form a closed loop within one unified platform.

4. On-Premises All-In-One Dream Gateway: Local Data Retention with Border Security

For projects requiring data to stay within the private network without cloud dependency, the AINOPOL Dream Gateway acts as the core egress device to host the full compliance stack independently.
The gateway has built-in modules for portal authentication, internet auditing and security defence. It supports local real-name authentication, collecting mobile numbers and identity document information. Session ID binds the four-tuple network data with browsing behaviour records, and local storage meets the 180-day retention requirement. Logs can be quickly filtered and exported by mobile number or time window.

It also integrates firewall, IPS and anti-malware functions. Beyond satisfying the real-name and logging rules of Order No.176, it defends against port scanning, brute-force attacks and ransomware lateral movement. This fits perfectly for high-scale scenarios such as e-sports hotel clusters, large internet cafés and grouped homestay sites with dense terminals and complex traffic. No separate audit server or independent firewall is needed. One device completes three core tasks: real-name access, log traceability and perimeter defence, simplifying deployment and daily maintenance.

Two deployment paths are available on demand: lightweight cloud plugins or the local integrated Dream Gateway. There is no one-size-fits-all rollout. Individual homestays, mid-sized internet cafés and dense e-sports hotel clusters can all find a matching compliance plan.
Real-name verification, log retention and network security form a full closed-loop system, replacing unreliable manual registers. Venues can cope calmly with cybersecurity spot checks, remote online audits and malicious complaints, staying firmly within the compliance boundary set by Order No.176.

FAQ

Q: Are homestays also required to implement real-name authentication and log retention?
A: Yes. If internet access is open to unspecified visitors, the venue counts as a public internet service provider. Real-name authentication and log retention are mandatory under the Cybersecurity Law and Order No.176.

Q: What are the main difficulties for e-sports hotels and internet cafés?
A: High terminal density, fast user turnover and lack of dedicated IT personnel. Standard ONTs and routers do not support native authentication and logging, and manual recording cannot produce complete traceable records.

Q: How long must logs be kept?
A: At least six months. AINOPOL Cloud Audit is designed for 180-day rolling retention. The exact retention period shall follow the requirements of local public security authorities.