Latest CNNIC Statistics Put Netizen Figure Above 20Mn by YearendLatest statistics from the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) show that the number of China's internet users maintained rapid growth in 2000. By the end of 2000, the number of netizens had topped 20 million, more than double the previous year's 8.9 million, according to Beijing Evening News report on January 6.An official with the CNNIC confirms the report. The official is quoted as saying that the survey conducted once every six months on China's internet development is in full swing. The final reports of the survey will be released in the middle of this month. Preliminary data available demonstrate that by the end of last year, there were over 8 million computers connected to the internet in China. The registered web domains outnumbered 30,000. In contrast, the two figures for 1999 were respectively 3.5 million and 15,000. In Beijing, more and more households started connecting the internet through their home phone line. Above 45.5 percent of those households who own fixed line and computer have gone online by the yearend. Meanwhile, according to "China's Netizen's Consumption Behavior Report" earlier published, over a quarter of the internet users in China spend more than 20 hours online, versus 1/20th netizens staying online for 16 hours and above in 1999. Internet use is spreading from IT professionals to the common people, the report concludes. By PD Online staff member Cui Fang |
| People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/ |