The number of Internet users in China as at the end of June rose 28 percent from a year ago to hit 87 million, according to a report released yesterday by China Internet Network Information Center.

　　The Internet users now account for 6.7 percent of the total population of the world's most populous country, a 0.5 percent rise over the end of last year. It is, however, still below the world's average penetration rate of 12.2 percent and is even lower compared to the rate in developed countries which range from 63 percent in Canada to 77 percent in Sweden.

　　The report defines a Chinese citizen who uses Internet for at least an hour a week as an Internet user. The figure didn't include users in Macau, Hong Kong and Taiwan, it said.

　　The survey, which is conducted through online questionnaire and offline interview, said the error margin of the online population is 5 percent.

　　The number of broadband users, totalling 31.1 million as at the end of June, soared 217 percent year-on-year. The broadband population also maintained a 78.7 percent growth during the first six months of this year.

　　The report by CNNIC, a research arm under the nation's Ministry of Information Industry, also showed that the percentage using e-mail slipped from 88.4 percent to 84.3 percent but it still remained top of the frequently used services provided on the Internet.

　　Meanwhile, the report, which is published every six months, also found out that more people placed online chatting, online gaming and online education into their often-used services.

　　China's major Internet portals also diversified their business during the past six months to tap the huge potential of the Internet economy.

　　Nasdaq-listed NetEase.com Inc launched its instant messaging service last month while Sina.com Inc will unveil its game site next month. Tom Online Inc will also enter the instant messaging market in the third quarter, according to Elaine Feng, the firm's executive vice president.

　　The report also said the environment of China's e-commerce is improving as over half of the respondents plan to do online shopping within the next year.

　　The percentage of those who use online banking for payment also continued to grow and is now 13 percent more than for those paying cash on delivery for the goods they bought online, the report said.