It's interesting that internet usage is growing in China, not with standing the Chinese authorities are keeping close watch on websites, blogs and search engines that their people are using or visiting. Yes, a new study has revealed that internet usage is growing much faster in China.

According to government-related information center CNNIC (China Internet Network Information Center), China's online population has surged 41.9% in 2008 to an astounding 298 million users, which is approximately equal to the size of the entire U. S. population.

The study has shown that internet usage is growing much faster in the countryside regions than in the urban areas - statistically; it's growing 60.8% year-on-year compared to 35.6% in cities. According to the study, the numbers of bloggers has increased to +162 million.

The study has also revealed that accessing the internet through mobile phones is also growing very popular among Chinese.

CNNIC articulates that 117.6 million Chinese people used internet through their mobile phones in the year 2008, which is 133% up from 2007.

Since, China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom have got licenses for 3G-enabled mobile phones, the CNNIC expects further surge in mobile internet usage, resulting from faster 3G networks.