Internet users top 100 mln in China, 2nd largest in world
The China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) on July 21 released its 16th report on China's Internet industry. By June 30, the number of China's Internet users has topped 100 million to reach 103 million, second only to the US. About 9 million Chinese became netizens in the first half of this year. The total number increased by 18.4 percent over the same period last year.
45.6 million computers linked to the Internet
According to surveys, computers linked to the Internet have reached 45.6 million in China, increasing by 4 million in six months and 25.6 percent over the same period of last year. The number of websites in China stands at 677,000 with IP addresses reaching 68,3 million, the fourth largest in the world.
The report shows that China's network infrastructure resources have made a major breakthrough. Domain names registered under the Chinese country code CN have grown rapidly to reach 622,000, increasing by 190,000 in six months at a rate of 44.1 percent. As the application of the Internet runs deep CN domain name as the symbol of the Chinese Internet is gaining importance among more and more Chinese and foreign companies.
However, while more than 67 percent of the US population, about 135 million people, have access to the Internet, in China, the percentage is only about 7.9 percent.
Online shopping registers 10 billion yuan
Analysis of focal statistics in the report shows that Chinese who do online shopping have reached 20 million and online payment represents growing proportion of nearly 50 percent. Market potential of online shopping is huge, as reflected by the 10 billion yuan total shopping value in six months and over 3 million handsets purchased online by Chinese. It is not only the monetary value that is surprising.
The report also shows that more than 15 percent of the netizens shopping online have at least once purchased clothing and living necessities. Online shopping is growing from mainly concentrating on books, audio-video products and PC/digital products to more diversified consumption.
As for the most common concerns, aside from viruses, Internet surfers said they are most annoyed by pop-up ads and windows. Others expressed worries about fraud, spam e-mail, and fake information on the Internet.