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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Surge in Chinese internet users | Surge in Chinese internet users |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| China's online population, already the world's largest, has expanded to 298 million. | China's online population, already the world's largest, has expanded to 298 million. |
| This marks a 41.9% increase on the previous year and is still growing fast, said the government-linked China Internet Network Information Centre. | This marks a 41.9% increase on the previous year and is still growing fast, said the government-linked China Internet Network Information Centre. |
| The study also showed huge increases in the number of people in China accessing the internet through mobile phones. | The study also showed huge increases in the number of people in China accessing the internet through mobile phones. |
| The report by Cinic also noted that internet use in the countryside was increasing faster than in the cities. | The report by Cinic also noted that internet use in the countryside was increasing faster than in the cities. |
| At the end of 2008, the number of net users in China, which has a population of 1.3 billion, was almost the same as the entire population of the United States. | At the end of 2008, the number of net users in China, which has a population of 1.3 billion, was almost the same as the entire population of the United States. |
| Users in the countryside surged by 60.8% year-on-year to 84.6 million, compared with much more modest growth of 35.6% in the urban areas, the report said. | Users in the countryside surged by 60.8% year-on-year to 84.6 million, compared with much more modest growth of 35.6% in the urban areas, the report said. |
| The Cinic report said 117.6 million people accessed the internet using their mobile phones last year, up 133% from 2007. | The Cinic report said 117.6 million people accessed the internet using their mobile phones last year, up 133% from 2007. |
| Students are the main strength of mobile internet users, the study said: 43.5% of them use their mobile phones to read online news, download music, check email and perform a variety of other tasks. | |
| 3G boom | 3G boom |
| China, with 633.8 million mobile phone users, last week issued long-awaited licences for third-generation (3G) mobile phones to China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom. | China, with 633.8 million mobile phone users, last week issued long-awaited licences for third-generation (3G) mobile phones to China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom. |
| CHINA'S INTERNET USE Total users: 298 millionYear-on-year increase: 41.9%Mobile net users: 117.6 millionInternet penetration: 22.6% "With the coming of the 3G era, wireless internet will have exponential growth," Cinic said in a statement accompanying the release of its report. | |
| 3G phones enable faster data transmission and services such as watching TV, playing online games, wide-area wireless calls and web surfing. | 3G phones enable faster data transmission and services such as watching TV, playing online games, wide-area wireless calls and web surfing. |
| By 2011, the three operators expect to start 3G services all over China, a move which analysts predict will spur further massive growth in mobile internet use. | By 2011, the three operators expect to start 3G services all over China, a move which analysts predict will spur further massive growth in mobile internet use. |
| As the categories of mobile internet services increase, charges have also been dropping fast. | As the categories of mobile internet services increase, charges have also been dropping fast. |
| China's internet penetration is still low at just 22.6%, leaving more room for rapid growth, Cinic said. | China's internet penetration is still low at just 22.6%, leaving more room for rapid growth, Cinic said. |
| Constraints | Constraints |
| The study said 234 million people surfed the internet to read or watch news by the end of 2008, a much higher estimate than recently made by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. | The study said 234 million people surfed the internet to read or watch news by the end of 2008, a much higher estimate than recently made by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. |
| In 2007, 155 million Chinese internet users relied on the web to read news, accounting for 73.6% of the total internet population, according to Cinic. | |
| It also said the number of Chinese bloggers hit 162 million by the end of 2008. | It also said the number of Chinese bloggers hit 162 million by the end of 2008. |
| China's booming internet use comes despite the government's tight grip on the web. | |
| Certain websites deemed politically sensitive are blocked; these include the BBC's Chinese language news site, Reporters Without Borders and some Hong Kong and Taiwan sites. | |
| Access to sites offering diverse political opinions remains highly restricted, even as Chinese intellectuals and activists regularly brave the constraints to post new statements. | |
| The government is also targeting what it calls unhealthy content on the internet. Earlier this month, it launched a campaign to get rid of vulgar and pornographic content, targeting 19 websites and search engines it said had failed to remove unsuitable material. | |
| Authorities in Beijing, meanwhile, actively use the internet to sway opinion, put across actions and ideas, and promote top leaders. |