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China to Beat US in Online Users?

Techtree News Staff, Jan 24, 2007 1803 hrs IST

As per reports, China is on its way to overtaking the US as the nation with the most number of Internet users.

Reportedly, China is on its way to overtaking the US as the nation with the most number of Internet users.

As per the China Internet Network Information Center (CINIC), a state-controlled agency, in the next two years, growth in Internet usage would pick up as computers get cheaper, and people adopt more mobile lifestyles.

In a statement, Wang Enhai, an official with the CINIC, said that they believe it will take two years at the most for China to overtake the US. An increasing number of people are now getting hooked on to the Web as PCs and Internet access are becoming affordable, and Internet-based offerings diversified.

According to reports, China saw strong growth in wireless Internet use, with about 17 million people online on mobile phones out of a total of nearly 461 million mobile phone users in the country.

The country also saw its Internet population soar by 23.4 percent last year to reach 137 million. And, while about 210 million out of the total 300 million people in the US are online, in China, it is estimated that the corresponding figure will reach 210 million users in two years, if only the country keeps up with its 24 percent annual online growth rate.

According to CINIC, as per new statistics, over one in 10 people in China have become Internet users. The online population now makes up 10.5 percent of the total population, and in Beijing, it now exceeds 30 percent of the total population for the first time ever.

With user penetration hitting almost 10 percent, commercially, this could mean a haven of opportunities for Chinese businesses.

All said and done, it is ironical that a country whose government has time and again blocked access to Internet content, deeming it subversive, obscene, or otherwise, should come a close second in the race for the highest online populations across the globe.

USER COMMENTS

China needs to secure it's servers. Tons of spam come from there on a daily basis and they don't seem to care. I can't wait until their system is overwhelmed more than it is now.

by Tim, Michigan, on Jan 24, 2007 10:32 PM, Report abuse Reply

Thanxx to Techtree for highlighting such stories- But sir the record of Indian government is providing basic infra-structure like broad band etc Is very poor. One is shocked to see that only 3.5 percent Indians have internet usage- I checked online and found that even Pakistan with its 7.2% Is much much better than us. All hype about India going into hyper space conomically is just that- advertisement of progress (by private initiative companies like Infosys) By politicians to secure their Kursi, which produces Crores in kickbacks to them. All thinking Indians should press government for cheaper access to Internet. India actually needs an INTERNET BROADBAND REVOLUTION Sir.

by Taipan, Kangra, on Jan 24, 2007 07:06 PM, Report abuse Reply

also ,i think china is moving towards IPv6 very very soon,infact earlier than Us..or has it already adopted IPV6?..ummm..i know that US govt comps have to be IPv6 compatible by 2008,but ,china..is already ahead..so..basically the chinese have too much money and time on their hands,maybe they shud free tibet instead of pushing people online.

by Rakesh, Bangalore, on Jan 24, 2007 06:52 PM, Report abuse Reply

China to Beat US in Online Users- This has come as no surprise to lots of people, China as a nation has progressed On account of use of technology and the correlation between net usage & progress are very direct- something which Babus in India Refuse to believe. Internet usage in India is abysmal 3.5 percent- just imagine the people in government have managed to deprive 96.5 percent of Indian from gateway to knowledge and freedom. India needs to do more & most urgently, if our nation s to catch up With China is this index of Internet usage & acquisition of knowledge. The mandarins in charge of tech need to really move their fat behinds, Drastically reduce/ internet access charges, and take a national initiative to provide wider and free/cheap internet access to at least 10 per centum Of Indians by 2010. ( Pre-requisite is that this important task can not be left to government elephants like BSNL,MTNL alone) we need a revolution like the mobile Revolution in Internet access also.

by vijayshimla, Shimla 171001, on Jan 24, 2007 06:35 PM, Report abuse Reply

i agree that 3.5 % is low,but u cant blame the govt for not making users go online. Its just majority of the population is probbly senior citizens,and farmers have no clue what this is. Blame it on education and awareness,but not the infrastructure. theinfrastructure can be blamed for diff reasons ,for eg,the modem provided by huwaeii is cheap and made in china and are suspected to spy on its users. and the broadband promise isnt actually broadband.. Well..i have no time for criticizing the govt or the people for getting online. i have to go buy milk my cow now... c ya. --- Rakesh Bangalore.

by Rakesh, Bangalore, on Jan 24, 2007 06:50 PM, Report abuse