China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) has released a report on Internet development in China in 2008: Investigation Report on Internet in Rural Area. The number of people connected in rural areas reached 52.62 million by the end of last year, an annual increase rate of 127.7%, much higher than the 38.2% annual increase rate in cities.

There is an emerging force to drive the continuous growth of Internet in China. Investigation shows that 40% (29.17 million) of the 73 million new users come from rural areas.

However, the development gap of Internet between rural areas and cities is still great.

The prevalence rate of Internet in cities is 27.3%.
In rural areas 7.1%.
Reasons for this are:

The education and income level of residents in rural areas are relatively low
Lack of knowledge about computers and the Internet, 53.3%
Lack of equipment to access Internet, 23.1%
The average weekly use of Internet by rural areas users is 12.3 hours, 5.6 hours less than in cities.

A key project led by the government and driven by various parties to support the telecommunication and Internet in rural areas is underway.
Source: China Economic Net

You have to be a bit careful here. The headline is literally true. Boosted by strong economic growth and government support for rural network construction, the online population in rural areas of China grew by an impressive 127.7%  last year, three times more than the expansion rate in urban areas.

And that means that China has edged out the US to have the world’s largest internet population of 221 million.

China Internet Network Information Centre (CNNIC) said about 29.17 million out of China’s 73 million new internet users, or 40%, were from the countryside, raising the internet population in rural areas to 52.62 million,

All absolutely true. But note carefully that most internet surfers were still from cities and online games are still a major, major force. Yes, the rural  population is getting connected but it will be a few years before it is using the Internet in the sense that it is generally meant.

The official Xinhua news agency reported 53.3% among rural residents who have yet to go online do not know how to use computers or the Internet, while 23.1% lacked Internet facilities.
Most of the rural Internet users — 61.4% — go online for news. Think of it as a selective television set.

And the country still lags well behind the U.S. in the percentage of their respective populations that use the Internet.

China currently has only a 16% Internet penetration among its residents — lower than the worldwide average of 19.1%, and well below the 72% usage rate in the U.S.

China began allowing individuals to access the Internet via dial-up services in 1995. China has promised full and unrestricted Internet access during August’s 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing despite concerns among security officials about possible cyberattacks.
Source: ComputerWorld and  The Economic Times

MediaG3, a developer for broadband wireless product, has entered a partnership with the Academy of Broadcasting Science (ABS), a division of China central government State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT).

The idea is perhaps to offer interactive TV coverage and high speed Internet in areas of China.

Peiyu Guo, Director of Information Technology Institute, of ABS said, ‘Broadband wireless technology has tremendous market potential in China, especially in vast regions where cable coverage is not feasible. Proven and cost effective broadband wireless technology and applications are two key solutions to satisfy the huge demand in China. We are very pleased to work with MediaG3 to explore and develop broadband wireless applications for connectivity and delivery.’

There have been two years of testing and now a pilot program is being planned.

In the interior regions and rural areas, there are about 900 million Chinese who are under- served or have no connections to the Internet or interactive TV programs.
MediaG3 may be able to fill that gap.
Source: Earth Times

A survey shows better rural facilities: but it is still a major divide although this is less so in technology.

The National Bureau of Statistics has released its first report based on the 2006 census. It shows that rural infrastructure and social services have improved remarkably in recent years.
Some figures of percentage of villages with:

Access to tap water: 48.6%.
Access to road links: 95.5%.
Garbage treatment facilities: 15.8%
Telephone services, electricity: 98.7%.
TV broadcasting: 97.6%.
Clinics: 74.3%.
Per capita income: RMB4,140($580) about a third of that earned by urban residents.

For every 100 households in rural areas, there were 87.3 television sets, 51.9 fixed-line telephones, 69.8 mobile phones, 2.2 computers, 38.2 motorbikes and 3.4 automobiles.

You can make the assumption that connections to the Internet are through an Internet cafe but not yet through mobile phones although with those figures and a change in technology that may well be the way to go.

Du Zhixiong, a researcher at the Rural Development Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). said, ‘The figures show the government’s increased spending to improve rural livelihoods has started to pay off.’

The central government plans to increase its budget for rural investment by more than a fourth to RMB520 billion ($72.8 billion) this year.

The latest census, the second of its kind, was conducted among more than 650,000 villages and nearly 230 million households.
Source: China Daily