Internet users number 111 million

The number of Chinese people using the Internet grew 18% to 111 million during 2005, AP reported, citing figures released by the official China Internet Network Information Center. The center also said the number of people with broadband access rose by more than 50% to 64 million over the past year. Statistics showed a wide gap between Internet use in China’s cities and rural areas – only 2.6% in the countryside were online, compared with 17% in town.