Internet development
Fang-Fang Tang · ANU Press eBooks · 2012
A BRiEF HISTORY Internet use in mainland China has accelerated in recent years, reaching 68 million users by 30 June 2003,1 in sharp contrast to the slowdown in some of the industrialised economies.The latest survey conducted in Taiwan (31 December 2002) shows that the internet penetration rate on the island has reached 38 per cent, or 8.6 million users.A similar survey conducted by the City University of Hong Kong at the end of 2002 indicates that internet users in the Hong Kong number 2.8 million or 45 per cent of the Hong Kong population aged from 6 to 84, according to the China Internet Network Information Centre (CNNIC) definition, or 2.4 million according to the WIP (World Internet Project) definition or 49 per cent of the population aged from 18 to 74.This chapter focuses on internet development in mainland China, with additional discussions of the situation in Hong Kong and Taiwan when relevant.Internet development has been dramatic all over the world.Its brief history in China is even more dramatic because of the particular political and social factors.