132 Million People Access Web in China

China's Population of Internet Users Has Risen by 30 Percent Over the Past Year to 132 Million

BEIJING Dec 29, 2006 (AP)— China's population of Internet users has risen by 30 percent over the past year to 132 million, a state news agency said Friday.

The figure was up from 123 million at the end of June, the Xinhua News Agency said, citing the government's China Internet Network Information Center.

It said the number of Chinese customers with broadband access has grown to 52 million.

The rapid rise in Internet use has propelled growth in China's online commerce, advertising and games industries, the Internet agency said.

China's communist government encourages Internet use for business and education but tries to block access to material deemed subversive or pornographic. Dozens of people have been jailed on subversion or security charges for posting political essays online.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press
Source: abcnews.com