(ECNS) -- China expects to improve its average broadband Internet speed to 30 megabits per second (Mbps) by the end of this year, said Wen Ku, a bureau chief at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
Wen said the ministry has rolled out a series of measures to improve Web access speeds, including fiber-to-home broadband for communities with outdated connectivity in cities.
The ministry has accelerated installation of fiber optic networks in rural areas and is planning to upgrade telecommunication infrastructure in 50,000 villages this year.
It plans to increase the average broadband speed for fixed-lines from 20.5 Mbps in 2015 to 30 Mbps in 2016. In the mobile Internet sector, more effort will be put into expanding the 4G network, with a projected increase of 260 million new users.
The ministry also promised to encourage market competition among the current three major service providers and support private investment into the sector as the country implements its "Internet Plus" strategy that aims to integrate the Internet and industry while encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation.
Officials from the ministry also pledged to increase supervision to enhance user experience.
