Internet Usage
Singapore leads the Asian region in internet penetration with 47.5% of the
population connected to the internet.
The Inforcomm Development Authority
(IDA) has data that suggests that in 2000, the number of internet
dial-up subscribers totaled1.88 Million, representing a penetration rate
of 57.4%. This is more than three times the subscribers compared to 16%
November 1999[1]
Instant Messaging
Instant messaging is the most popular application among Singaporeans
connected to the internet. An
average of 12.6 days a month are spent on Instant Messaging by 51% of the
internet users. Females aged
between 15 and 24 years were the most frequent users.[2]
Internet Surfing
Surfing the internet ranks second in popularity to Instant Messaging.
Users spend an average of 12.2 days a month surfing the internet.
Despite the Singapore government’s actions to install a
nationwide broadband infrastructure, only 4% to 5% of internet subscribers
use broadband connections. Comparing
Singapore to other Asian countries, Koreans spend the most amount of time
surfing with an average of 15.7 hours a month, while Hong Kong came in
second at 11.3 hours and Singapore was third at 9.8 hours.[3]
|
Rank |
Country |
Internet
Users per
1,000 People |
|
1 |
Finland |
244.5 |
|
2 |
Norway |
231.1 |
|
3 |
Iceland |
227.3 |
|
4 |
U.S. |
203.4 |
|
5 |
Australia |
178.0 |
|
6 |
New
Zealand |
155.9 |
|
7 |
Canada |
148.9 |
|
8 |
Sweden |
147.3 |
|
9 |
Singapore |
141.2 |
|
10 |
Denmark |
125.6 |
|
11 |
Switzerland |
107.1 |
|
12 |
United
Kingdom |
99.5 |
|
13 |
Netherlands |
88.9 |
|
14 |
Hong
Kong |
64.9 |
|
15 |
Japan |
63.1 |
|
Country |
Population in Millions |
Internet User Base in Thousands |
Percent Usage |
|
Japan |
125 |
18,000 |
14.39 |
|
China |
1,200 |
4,000 |
0.33 |
|
South Korea |
45 |
3,100 |
6.89 |
|
Taiwan |
21 |
3,010 |
14.40 |
|
Hong Kong |
6 |
850 |
14.41 |
|
Malaysia |
20 |
600 |
2.99 |
|
Singapore |
3 |
500 |
17.86 |
|
Philippines |
68 |
320 |
0.47 |
|
Thailand |
59 |
131 |
0.22 |
|
Indonesia |
198 |
80 |
0.04 |
|
Vietnam |
75 |
6 |
0.01 |
Estimated Internet Usage in Asia [2]
[1] U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service,
2001
[2] ibid
[3] ibid
[4] Asia on
Demand, http://www.asiaondemand.com/technology/technology.htm
[5] Computer Industry Almanac Inc.
[6] November 25, 1998 Cybergeography