SCIO Briefing on 3rd Digital China Summit
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E-mail China.org.cn, September 22, 2020
The Poster News APP:
Data shows that by March 2020, China's rural online population had reached 255 million, with a rural internet penetration rate?of 46.3%. How will we narrow the gap between the rates in urban and rural areas so as to "balance out" the online population?
Yang Xiaowei:
Thank you for your question and your interest in the internet penetration rate in rural areas. We're proud to say that China tops the world in internet development and internet infrastructure. Looking at the situation abroad, we can see that almost no other country can provide such 4G network coverage as China. The optical-fiber penetration rate in China also ranks number one in the world. Your question shows you care about whether rural residents can enjoy our latest achievements regarding the internet.
The "Broadband China" initiative was launched nationwide because of the priority given to the matter by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. Following are the major steps taken so far:
The first is improving the level of network coverage. There are five batches of nationwide trials into universal telecommunications services, providing optical fiber to a total of 43,000 poverty-stricken villages and 4G base stations for 9,200 such villages. Currently, over 98% of administrative villages in China are covered by optical fiber or 4G, and generally speaking, there is no gap between urban and rural areas.
The second is reducing expenses. Relevant departments have supported basic telecom operators in cutting expenses, which has benefited over 12 million poor families, changing their way of life and narrowing the urban-rural gap at a lower cost after receiving access to the internet and various information apps.
Next, the relevant departments will further carry out the decisions and deployments of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council to constantly improve rural broadband networks. The sixth set of trials into universal telecommunications services is underway, and its compensation system will be improved. With the aim of allowing people in both cities and the countryside to enjoy the same smooth internet access under the same network, the optical-fiber and 4G coverage of administrative villages, and poverty-stricken villages in particular, will be raised.
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