As of late June, the number of netizens, or Internet users, in
China stood at 103 million, according to Mao Qian, head of Optical
Telecommunications Committee of China Telecommunications
Society.
Mao presented the statistics from a recently completed report
based on the 16th survey into the development of the Internet in
China, while addressing the ongoing Fourth Optics Valley of China
Int'l Optoelectronic Expo and Forum held in Wuhan, capital of Hubei
Province, central China, on Thursday.
According to Mao, there are 53 million broadband subscribers,
most of whom are ADSL users.
Latest information from the Chinese Ministry of Information
Industry reports that households with ADSL access outlets totaled
33 million across China, accounting for two thirds of broadband
subscribers in the country.
The survey also suggests that many broadband subscribers
complain about Internet connections. Five percent are "very
unsatisfied", 17 percent are "not quite satisfied", and 40 percent
responded "so-so".
Mao was confident that the speed issue would be solved within
two to three years with progress in fiber-optic technology that
will expand access to more households.
(Xinhua News Agency November 4, 2005)