China’s Internet population estimated at 505 million

The Internet penetration rate rose to 37,7 percent in November, up 3,4 percentage points from the end of 2010, according to a CNNIC report released at a conference here.   As of the end of November, the number of microblog users exceeded 300 million, jumping from 195 million by the end of June, the report said. The rapid growth of China’s Internet population, already the largest in the world, has spurred expansion in the country’s Internet economy. The value of China’s Internet economy surged 72,7 percent year-on-year to US$11,3 billion in the third quarter of 2011. — Xinhua.