China's online population pass 250m, US

The number of internet users in China has reached 253 million, overtaking the US as the world’s largest internet-user market, state media reported, citing the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC). High-school students using the internet have provided the biggest boost in the figure, increasing by 56% over last year and making up 39 million of the 43 million new users. China’s mobile-phone user base increased to 601 million at the end of June, an 8.6 million increase over the month. China’s telecommunications regulator instructed internet and mobile service providers not to add new subscribers in August to ensure network stability during the Olympics.