Internet reaches farther into rural China
By Leah McBride Mensching, Thursday 11 October 2007 at 22:32 :: World Digital Media Trends :: #686 :: rss
The Internet is growing rapidly in China's rural areas, allowing more farmers and migrant workers to access news, music, videos and more online, Asia Media reported Thursday.
National Development and Reform Commission statistics found that as of June, 37.4 million people living in rural areas of China are using the Internet, a 14.3 million increase from six months prior. In the first half of 2007, the percent of the country's rural population accessing the Internet increased from 3.1 percent to 5.1 percent, Xinhua reported.
The rapid increase is due to improved telecommunications infrastructures in rural areas, the NDRC's report concluded. Between 2006 and 2010, China's information ministry is aiming to connect all the country's villages with phone lines and lay inroads for more technology for every household, Asia Media reported.
Most of those accessing the internet in rural China are young farmers and migrant workers, turning to the Internet for entertainment, but rarely for news, online banking or online shopping, Xinhua reported.
Comments
No comment.
Post comment