China's Net Market Booming
By Michael Drexler
TOKYO – The world's most populous country will become the
one of the world's largest Internet markets as early as 2003,
according to a report released Monday.
China is already the fastest growing Net market in Asia, with
the number of online users expected to reach 6.7 million by
year end, up 319 percent from 1998, according to a report
entitled "The Internet in China," jointly published by BDA
China and the Strategis Group.
The number of Chinese PC users going online proliferated at
nearly the same rate last year.
Internet growth will continue at a rapid clip, increasing 60
percent on average for the next five years, the report predicted.
At that rate, China's Internet user base will hit 33 million in
2003, about double the size of Japan's user base today.
Although relatively high costs of online access may have
previously restrained Chinese enthusiasm for the Internet, ISPs
today are exploring different technologies, like cable lines, to
provide high bandwidth to customers for lower prices, according
to the report.
Foreign companies are also looking to get into an act now
dominated by China Telecom. Last week, America Online
(AOL) bought 10 percent of China.com, a portal and
Net-service company that operates in China and elsewhere in
Asia.
China's ISP market will be worth $4 billion by 2003, the report
forecasted.
(Michael Drexler writes for the IDG News Service. )
thestandard.com |
