Ensuring security

While Bai, the Beijing worker, says increasing broadband speed and expanding coverage are important, cyber security is even more so.

Rampant computer viruses and hacker attacks have become quite the norm in China. Almost every computer has at least one anti-virus software installed. At present, there are 14 cyber security companies in China. Finance and telecom companies are the two biggest markets for cyber security software.

After the Everbright Securities Co. Ltd. incident on August 16 (see issue No.35 of Beijing Review), the public has become highly concerned about the security of computer systems. According to a statement of the China Securities Regulatory Commission on August 18, there were design flaws in Everbright's trading system, which led to a glitch and brought chaos to the markets.

Under the Broadband China strategy, expanding broadband coverage will be combined with ensuring cyber security, said Zhu at the MIIT.

"I hope in future, when I enjoy high speed, my computer will not become a channel infringing on my privacy," Bai said.

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Three-Phase Targets

By the end of 2013, there will be 210 million fixed broadband users, with 55 percent in urban and 20 percent in rural households. There will be 330 million 3G/LTE equivalents, accounting for 25 percent of mobile subscribers. At least 90 percent of administrative villages will have broadband access, 80 percent of urban broadband users will have access to networks of 20 Mbps and 85 percent of rural broadband users will have access to networks of 4 Mbps. Wifi will cover all key public areas in cities.

By 2015, the number of fixed broadband users will reach 270 million, with 65 percent of urban and 30 percent of rural households being covered by fixed broadband service. The number of 3G/LTE subscribers will reach 450 million, accounting for 32.5 percent of all mobile subscribers. At least 95 percent of administrative villages will be able to access broadband. In cities the broadband speed will reach 20 Mbps and even 100 Mbps while in rural areas the speed will be 4 Mbps. Wifi will cover all public areas in cities with service quality being significantly improved. The number of netizens will reach 850 million. China will own some core technologies in key sectors of broadband wireless telecommunications and cloud computing. The standards of broadband technology will be improved and China's global input on broadband development will remarkably increase.

By 2020, the country will set up a broadband network infrastructure covering all urban and rural areas comprised of convenient service, high speed and advanced technology. There will be 400 million fixed broadband users and 70 percent of households will have broadband access. Fiber optic networks will cover all urban households. The number of 3G/LTE subscribers will reach 1.2 billion. At least 98 percent of administrative villages will be able to access broadband service. The network speed for urban and rural households will reach 50 Mbps and 12 Mbps respectively, and 50 percent of urban households will be able to access broadband networks of 100 Mbps. In some developed cities the network speed could reach 1 Gbps. The number of netizens will reach 1.1 billion.

(Source: The State Council's Broadband China strategy and its implementation plans)