Beijing — China’s digital landscape is expanding at an unprecedented rate, with the country’s internet penetration rate reaching 79.7 percent and over 1.1 billion people now connected online.
The remarkable achievement was unveiled at the 24th China Internet Conference, which opened in Beijing on Wednesday. The event highlighted the Chinese mainland’s rapid progress in digital infrastructure and its position as a global leader in key development indicators.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Zhang Yunming, vice minister of China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, noted that the internet industry is evolving towards greater platform support and a thriving ecosystem. “The number of telecom and internet businesses has nearly doubled from 94,000 to 187,000,” Zhang said. “Meanwhile, the combined revenue of China’s top 10 internet companies has grown from 2.4 trillion yuan (about $335 billion) to over 4 trillion yuan.”
The vice minister also highlighted the surge in “unicorn” companies—start-ups valued at over $1 billion—with the number surpassing 400, marking an increase of over 80 percent during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) period.
Zhang emphasized the need to accelerate the deep integration of the internet with artificial intelligence under the “AI+” initiative. “We must expand the supply of digital products and strengthen the development of new information infrastructure,” he said. “By deepening the integration between digital networks and computing networks, we can enhance connectivity and the capabilities of AI infrastructure.”
China now operates the world’s largest 5G and gigabit optical networks, boasting a total of 4.486 million 5G base stations and a 5G user penetration rate of 78 percent. Gigabit broadband users have exceeded 200 million, illustrating the country’s commitment to cutting-edge technology.
In the first half of the year, mobile internet data usage soared to 186.7 billion gigabytes, up 16.4 percent year on year. This surge reflects the growing demand for high-speed connectivity and digital services among China’s population.
The conference underscored the Chinese mainland’s dedication to digital innovation and its role in shaping the future of global technology. With a focus on integrating AI and expanding digital infrastructure, China is setting the stage for continued growth and leadership in the digital age.
