Government ministries are stepping up the pace of working out details of the “Broadband China” project, which aims to realize fiber optic communication in urban areas and improve the availability of broadband services in rural areas. It will speed up the pace of deploying the next generation of the internet in China. The project also plans to step up the convergence of cable television, telecommunications, and the internet. The Chinese government hopes to deliver fiber optic communication to a further 35 million households this year, and have more than 50% of its broadband users enjoying a connection speed at 4 Mbps or faster. Chinese telecom operators are expected to invest CNY370 billion in broadband construction this year, an increase of 10% year-on-year. The number of broadband users in China reached 159 million, or 11.7% in terms of the penetration rate, by April, still far behind that of some developed economies.