China celebrates 30 years of internet access, boasting over 1 billion users
People visit an innovation achievements exhibition during the 2023 China 5G + Industrial Internet Conference in Wuhan, central China's Hubei province, Nov. 20, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
China is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its full access to the internet, marking a period of significant social and economic development driven by the internet.
Over the past three decades, the internet has disrupted traditional economic models, transformed the way people acquire knowledge, enriched leisure and entertainment activities, accelerated production and daily life, and profoundly shaped individuals' perspectives on life, the world, and values, according to Wang Jilong, professor at the Institute for Network Sciences and Cyberspace (INSC), Tsinghua University and co-chair of the Asia-Pacific Advanced Network (APAN) China Consortium.
A report released by the China Internet Network Information Center revealed that as of December 2023, China's internet user base had reached 1.092 billion people, an increase of 24.8 million compared to the previous year, resulting in an internet penetration rate of 77.5%.
China has also made significant strides in the development of internet infrastructure. By the end of 2023, the country had assigned over 68,000 blocks/32 of IPv6 addresses, registered more than 20 million top-level ".cn" domain names, and established 1.136 billion broadband access ports. Furthermore, China constructed approximately 3.4 million 5G stations, ensuring coverage in all urban areas of prefecture-level cities and counties.
In addition, Wang emphasized the internet's role in driving the digital economy, noting its increasing integration into various economic sectors. China's digital economy has now surpassed 50 trillion yuan ($6.9 trillion) in scale, propelled by technologies such as the internet, cloud computing, big data, the Internet of Things, and financial technology.
Wang also highlighted China's commitment to cybersecurity with the establishment of a comprehensive organizational and legal framework. Last year, China released the "White Paper on China's Law-Based Cyberspace Governance in the New Era," showcasing its progress and commitment to promoting the internet's lawful, orderly, and healthy development.
Despite these achievements, Wang acknowledged that there is still significant room for improvement in the development of core cybersecurity technology. He suggested further investment in national public cyberspace security infrastructure to provide internet users with a stable and secure online environment.
Looking to the future, Wang emphasized the importance of original and pioneering internet innovation, particularly as the information technology revolution intensifies. He expressed hope that China can seize the opportunities presented by the latest technological revolution by encouraging more research initiatives and promoting the development of innovative internet technologies.
Related articles
Police investigating shooting outside Drake's mansion that left security guard wounded
TORONTO (AP) — Police are investigating a shooting outside rapper Drake’s mansion in Toronto that le2024-05-09Fascinating 'heat maps' reveal where in the world Brits think famous landmarks are
The famous sights Britons find easiest, and most difficult, to place on a global map have been revea2024-05-09How hard is it to land an airliner in a crosswind
It's 209ft (63m) long and weighs about 180 tonnes - yet I can feel this giant aircraft being pushed2024-05-09Unclear whether there's funding to continue extra hospital security guards
The Middlemore Hospital Emergency department Photo: RNZ / Dan Cook2024-05-09My top diet tricks to lower your blood pressure WITHOUT taking pills
Anyone who thinks they have no need to worry about high blood pressure should think again — it can a2024-05-09Hong Kong Book Fair: Two local publishers keep titles on sale despite security law complaints
Two Hong Kong publishers – who received complaints of suspected national security violations &2024-05-09
atest comment