As this report was being researched and drafted, economists at the National Bureau of Economic Research declared that the U.S.
economy was in a recession that started in March 2001.
Germany’s Federal Statistics Office also revealed that the German economy contracted in the third quarter of 2001, raising fears of a recession throughout the Eurozone.
Will this economic downturn affect global internet use? We are confident that over the next four years worldwide adoption of the internet will continue apace.
In the United States, the rate at which new individuals obtain internet access is growing, though at a slower rate, as adoption of the technology approaches saturation.
Globally, however, internet use continues to expand, and will accelerate as consumers take to long overdue 3G mobile internet services and embrace interactivetelevision and other access technologies.
In the developing world, internet use will climb rapidly, albeit from a small base, thanks to new infrastructure and deregulated telecommunications sectors.
This report presents completely updated statistics on internet access technologies, internet use, user demographics, and usage patterns worldwide and in the G-7 countries.
As a broad overview of internet users and usage, the report answers a number of critical questions: - How many people will be using the internet in 2004? - What are their preferred online activities? - Which countries have the highest internet penetration rates? - How fast is internet use growing in France? In Japan? - How many people subscribe to wireless services and what is the future of the wireless internet? - What are the major demographic trends that e-marketers must be aware of ?