International web development: a detailed analysis by regions

The global internet market has grown very rapidly in the past decade and continues to bring global communities closer together. Its development and deployment has occurred differently in all parts of the globe reflecting the developed, developing and underdeveloped economies of the world. The three largest global regions from an economic perspective are North America, Asia, and Europe. These regions also represent the largest group of internet users in the world. The internet provides the basis for the global exchange of products, services and ideas. The use of the internet can be used for both good and evil as witnessed by the events leading up to September 11, 2001, when terrorists used the internet for easy communication and information retrieval. Undoubtedly, an adjustment period to assure secure and proper use of the internet will occur after which time or in conjunction therewith, the internet’s growth and continued use will expand. The internet’s development can be described as being adopted in one of three stages: acquisition of web literacy, web use as an information medium and finally, web use for the purchase of products and services. This paper examines the development of the internet in seven major regions of the world, namely, North America, South America, Africa, Europe, Middle East, Asia and Oceania. For each region this study examines the current status of web development, trends in web development and market penetration, regional responsibilities for web development, relative concentration of the web development effort, and finally, timing, constraints and limitations on web development. All of these items are shown to be important factors impacting internet growth and development. Though the USA currently leads in internet development, it is entirely possible that the USA may fall behind as Japan and Europe more quickly develop wireless internet access – the next growth engine of the internet.