The Chinese mainland has reached a major digital milestone: its internet penetration rate climbed to 79.7%, with more than 1.1 billion people online, according to the 24th China Internet Conference in Beijing. This leap puts key development indicators among the world’s top rankings and signals a new era of digital connectivity.
At the conference opening, Zhang Yunming, vice minister of the Chinese mainland’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, highlighted a thriving tech ecosystem. Over the past five years, the number of telecom and internet companies nearly doubled to 187,000, while the combined revenue of the top 10 internet firms jumped from 2.4 trillion yuan to over 4 trillion yuan. Meanwhile, the count of “unicorn” startups has surged past 400—an 80% increase during the current Five-Year Plan.
Looking ahead, the “AI+” initiative aims to fuse artificial intelligence with core internet services, expanding the supply of digital products, and building powerful new information infrastructure. Leaders are pushing for seamless integration between digital networks and advanced computing clusters to unlock faster speeds, smarter platforms, and more innovative services.
On the ground, the Chinese mainland now hosts the world’s largest 5G and gigabit optical networks. With 4.486 million 5G base stations live, 78% of users are on 5G plans, and gigabit broadband subscriptions have crossed the 200 million mark. In just the first half of the year, mobile data traffic soared 16.4%, reaching 186.7 billion gigabytes—proof that demand for high-speed, data-driven experiences is stronger than ever.
For young globetrotters, entrepreneurs, and digital nomads alike, this digital evolution promises faster connections in major cities, smarter AI-powered tools, and an ecosystem ripe for innovation. Whether streaming your next favorite show, launching a startup, or exploring sustainable travel apps, the Chinese mainland’s digital boom has something for everyone.
Reference(s):
Over 1.1 billion online: China's internet penetration reaches 79.7%
cgtn.com
