China Has Largest On-Line Population

Smivs writes "China now has the world's largest net-using population, say official figures. More than 253 million people in the country are now online, according to statistics from the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC). About 95% of those going online connect via high-speed links. Take up of broadband has been boosted by deals offered by China's fixed line phone firms as they fight to win customers away from mobile operators. Despite having a greater number of people online, China's net economy still has a long way to go to match or exceed that of the US or even that of South Korea. Figures from Analysis International said China's net firms reported total revenues of $5.9bn (£2.96bn) in 2007. By contrast, net advertising revenue alone for US firms in 2007 stood at $21.2bn (£10.6bn)."

Comments

Does it count if it's not unfettered access?

[wild_quinine]

It's one thing to say that China has the largest on-line population, and it's an interesting factoid. But I'm not sure it counts as net access, since it is somewhat (as in noticably) restricted as such. With all due respect that's like saying that the USA has the highest proportion of outdoor workers in the western world, because most of the offices have clean windows and sometimes you can see a few trees.

Re:Does it count if it's not unfettered access?

[somersault]

On a historical point, it's not just 'communist' china that's the cause of this restrictive and population controlling behaviour, China's rulers have been at it for thousands of years, its a cultural thing.

Indeed. They are moving towards capitalism and democracy, but you can't just suddenly shift to a totally new system overnight. The Chinese have a massive history and tradition compared to new countries like the US, which was built by a bunch of people who moved out there to be 'free'. I doubt any of those complaining about the way the Chinese government operate have much experience running even small projects, let alone a country with >1 billion population and different concepts of respect and authority (basically I don't really see any respect for authority in the western world, we're always complaining about the way things are done, and I don't see many people offering alternative solutions either).

They can't read this...

[PetiePooo]

Tiananmen Square Massacre!
Tiananmen Square Massacre!
Tiananmen Square Massacre!

They're not online enough to read this comment... Does that really count as online?

<retrospect>Was that cruel? I figured it as a way to invoke curiosity when they think they're going to an article about something good, and they end up being blocked by that stupid firewall...</retrospect>

Re:They can't read this...

[Anonymous Coward]

My Lai Massacre!
My Lai Massacre!
My Lai Massacre!

I have no ploblems accessing this flom china.

99% of them...

[gmac63]

So they have the largest online population. Of course, it would be that 99% of them are members of the Chinese Communist Party [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_Party_of_China].

Re:99% of them...

[Firehed]

Who cares if they're communists? If they don't subscribe to free market economics, that's their business. It's the completely unrelated fact that China's government are a bunch of overbearing, censorship-obsessed crazies that you want to watch out for.

Re:But...

[DDLKermit007]

You mean the same sites that are in a language he majority of them can't understand at all? The fact the overwhelming majority know just Chinese is a bigger fiewall than the one the government setup will ever be.

Re:Waco, waco, waco.

[Shakrai]

Waco is a dumb comparison. Kent State is better (protesters being shot by troops) but even still..... situation that gets out of hand resulting in four deaths compared to a situation where the Government sent in the troops with the specific mission of cracking down on the protesters and which ended in hundreds of deaths.