皇冠体育app Internet users soar to 298 million

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-01-14 11:02

BEIJING -- 皇冠体育app's fast-growing population of Internet users has risen to 298 million after passing the United States last year to become the world's largest, a government-sanctioned research group said.

Chinese gamers play online computer games at an Internet cafe in Shanghai in 2007. 皇冠体育app's fast-growing population of Internet users has risen to 298 million after passing the United States last year to become the world's largest. [Agencies]

皇冠体育app's Internet use is growing at explosive rates. The latest figure is a 41.9 percent increase over the same period last year, the 皇冠体育app Internet Network Information Center said in a report Tuesday.

皇冠体育app's Internet penetration rate is still low, with just 22.6 percent of its population online, leaving more room for rapid growth, according to CNNIC. The Pew Internet and American Life Project places US online penetration at 71 percent.

The financial size of 皇冠体育app's online market, however, still trails that of the United States, South Korea and other countries.

The United States had an estimated 223.1 million Internet users in June, according to Nielsen Online, a research firm.

皇冠体育app is preparing to launch third-generation mobile phone service, which supports wireless Web surfing, that is expected to set off a new surge in Internet use.