Where did you get the theory that only people in urban will (or can) get broadband lines? How do you know other people in suburban and small towns or even in rural areas in China cannot get broadband lines?
Take a trip to China and it will greatly help you to understand the big numbers :)
Schmidt, I understand your doubts about their numbers. They are hard to believe especially if you have not spent time in China. We tend to look at things through our own colored glass lenses. Folks in western countries like USA or western EU often cannot imagine how fast things can happen in China. While they have lots of problems and issues, one thing that can be said for their system of government and corporate management: when they decide to do something, EVERYONE lines up and gets it done.
China several years ago decided as a nation and also in the provinces decided to enable broadband.
And while I tend to agree with you that most in the rural areas probably don't have access yet, I think your numbers are off regards the population and the split between rural / urban.
I believe China has closer to 1.4-1.5 B people. And I think that the split is more like over 50%-60% in urban / suburban areas (note: china does not have suburbs in the same way we do in USA). Maybe even more. Not the 1/3 you mention.
So, while the numbers seem high, they are entirely plausible. Also, you must remember that almost ALL broadband gear is manufactured in China, regardless of the brand or label on the box. Doesn't matter if it is DSL, Cable Modem or FTTx based broadband access, most of that gear is made in China. So, from a technology and ability to scale, not a stretch for China to have such broadband penetration.
re: China Telecom's Big Numbersthe real number can be higher if you include all chinese broadband users who gain broadband access from cable operator, telecom operator, and dedicate broadband operator and a lot of enterprise sepcial broadband project for they employees.
In a nation of 1B people, where 1/3 are urban, how do they have over 100M broadband lines? Broadband penetration can't be that high.
Double counting to the extreme.