internet users in the philippines reach 11.8 m

internet users in the philippines reach 11.8 million last year (2004) according to research firm idc. and according to our own philippine internet commerce society (pics) they are confident that internet users will reach 20 million in 2007. click here to read the news from inq7.net.

how much is that in terms of percentage penetration? estimated 2005 population of the philippines is 84,174,092. taking percentage penetration of 11.8 million to the 2005 estimated population, it's only 14 percent.

but if we take account the data from internet usage world stats particularly the rest of asia, philippines has internet users of only 7.82 million with a percentage penetration of 9.3%. refer to the table below of top 5 asean countries with internet usage penetration.

either one of the two is correct, 11.8 million from idc and pics or the data from internet usage world stats, still internet doesn't really penetrate in most part of the country. and this proves digital divide weight more on non-internet users.

thus internet make a big role in helping boost economy? i think it is, based from the top 24 countries with highest penetration rate, the 24 countries listed are industrialized nations. ict takes a bigger part in boosting economy. and for this, government should act and take more initiative in investing more on ict from training or education to infrastructures.

this is the only way we can compete to the rest of countries.