Chinese Internet Usage / Now 137 Million users

The China Network Information Center (http://www.cnnic.net.cn/en/index/) has published its latest Internet usage statistics: between January and December 2006, the number of internet users has risen from 111 million to 137 million, around 23 per cent of an increase. The Internet penetration hence came up to around 10 percent, with the highest figures apparently in Beijing (30 per cent).

What is interesting is the very high share of "broadband" connections, which more than two thirds of all online connection belonging into this category. It surely is a llittle bit of a trick, as most of these will supposedly be (I have not checked, however) of the low-bandwidth DSL variety CNC is offering - hardly what you are used to from higher-quality networks.

News item: http://english.cri.cn/2946/2007/01/23/301@188113.htm

Chinese KTV royalty fees go unpaid

China Daily reports that the "China Audio and Video Association did not levy
royalty fees on karaoke bar operators in Guangzhou on New Year's Day, the
scheduled start of the association's new fee regime.
Representatives of several of the city's key karaoke bars told China Daily
that they had not yet received any notices in connection with the fees. They
also said they would support the Guangzhou Cultural and Entertainment
Industry Association's call to reject the charges."
Full text: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-01/04/content_773934.htm