Net users to reach 72 million this year - 02/2001

The number of Internet users in the Asia Pacific region is expected to increase by 72 percent this year to 72 million, according to a new study. Research firm Gartner Group further predicts that the number of web users in the region will reach 188 million by 2004. Japan, the region's largest Internet market, is expected to increase its online population from 17.4 million last year to 64.5 million in 2004. Gartner highlighted China, India, and South Korea as potentially large markets in the future. China's online population is expected to reach 51 million in 2004, while India's will reach 10.1 million at that time. The figures represent market growths of 36.6 percent and 47 percent respectively. In Thailand, however, growth in Internet use is expected to be slow over the next four years, due to economic issues and deficiencies in Thailand's telecommunications infrastructure. In addition to improvements in infrastructure, cheaper Internet access and local-language content will be needed to boost Internet use in the country.

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