According to the most recent figures, Asia has the largest number of net users (nearly 400 million), with Europe second (over 300 million), followed by North America (229 million); however, this does not accurately portray the penetration of internet access throughout international regions, largely because the figures only show the number of users and not the percentage of users in each country. While regions like Asia may have a large number of users, it also contains a huge number of people - 56.4% of the world's entire population - meaning that only about 1 in 10 of the Chinese populace currently have access to the internet.
South Korea, on the other hand, has a relatively small population; but with over 70% of homes having a high-speed broadband connection, it is probably one of the most connected areas in the world. This rivals California and the higher internet using areas of North America.
The discrepancy between the levels of internet access available across regions has in recent years become an issue of high importance; this is true not only among telecom companies and marketers looking to promote their products to regionally specific targets, but also for global economists and world development analysts.
Some forums assert that Africa needs food and water more than it needs broadband access; however, others believe that as the global economy becomes more reliant on the net for information and trade, nations which do not embrace the net and ensure the rapid expansion of access to all their citizens will find themselves increasingly unable to clothe, house and feed themselves.
Kishik Park, president of the IPv6 forum in South Korea, said:
"The net should be treated as food or housing. Because the net today is not just a means to communicate ideas. It is a kind of daily infrastructure for every citizen."
Jim Dempsey of the US Center For Democracy and Technology believes that the hardest area to remedy will be Africa. Despite the figures showing that increases in internet usage have been growing fastest in Africa, with an explosion in usage of over 600% from 2000, Africa is still struggling to keep pace with the rest of the online world. However, it's not alone; similar problems are prevalent in parts of Asia, South America and the Middle East.
Speaking at the Internet Governance Forum in Athens, Jim Dempsey gave his predictions on where the major future growth is likely to occur: "The next 500 million will be easy because it will all come from China." The following 500 million, he believes, "will be spread around the world. I worry particularly about Africa being left behind here."
As discussions on how to rectify the international imbalance in net access continue, certain proponents are advocating laissez-faire competition to stimulate growth in areas currently not adequately served by broadband or even slow speed narrow band access. Others like Kishik Park believe that, "We must think about collaboration before competition."
There are still others who are looking towards technological solutions by suggesting improved infrastructure initiatives or the creation of mobile networks and local exchanges which effectively connect areas to the global net.
While the speed at which the internet is expanding may be a marketers dream, there is still a long way to go in order to make the net accessible to all; and while the inequality continues, the countries who are left behind will continue to suffer.
