According to the China Internet Network Information Center, till the end of 2005, IP addresses on the Chinese mainland totaled 74.39 million and the number of netizens soared to 111 million, 17 million more than the previous year, representing a growth rate of 18.1 percent. China's online community made up 8.5 percent of the total population, with 84.8 percent of Internet users having junior college education or above and 1.8 percent, a high school degree. Students accounted for 35.1 percent of all netizens, enterprise employees for 29.6 percent, teachers and other administrative staff for 7.3 percent, public servants for 6.6 percent, employees of public service units for 6.5 percent, and others for less than 5 percent.

A total of 64.3 million had broadband access, 21.5 million more than the previous year. The average browsing time was 15.9 hours per week, which is 2.7 hours or 20.5 percent more year on year. The most frequent activities were browsing news, searching for materials through search engines and e-mailing. The average netizen paid 103.6 yuan each month for Internet connection, not including the expenses for online services. Online service charges exceeded 100 billion yuan in 2005, reflecting this sector's huge market potential.