Chinese internet users surge to 802 million in test of government’s ability to manage world’s biggest online community

There are now as many internet users in China as there are people in the United States, Indonesia and Brazil combined.

While two in five Chinese are still offline, the country’s internet population has grown big enough to open huge market opportunities for hi-tech companies, and provide the government with better access to keep watch over its citizens, according to an analyst.

China surpassed the 800-million mark for the number of internet users for the first time, further cementing its position as home to the world’s biggest online community, as the country kept up its investment in infrastructure and pushed to lower access fees.