Digital in 2018: World’s internet users pass the 4 billion mark
Simon Kemp - January 30, 2018
The new 2018 Global Digital suite of reports from We Are Social and Hootsuite reveals that there are now more than 4 billion people around the world using the internet.
Well over half of the world’s population is now online, with the latest data showing that nearly a quarter of a billion new users came online for the first time in 2017. Africa has seen the fastest growth rates, with the number of internet users across the continent increasing by more than 20 percent year-on-year.
Number of internet users worldwide from 2005 to 2017
Statista - July 2017
This statistic gives information on the total number of internet users worldwide from 2005 to 2017. As of the most recent reported period, the number of internet users worldwide was 3.58 billion, up from 3.39 billion in the previous year. Easier access to computers, the modernization of countries around the world and an increased utilization of smartphones has given people the opportunity to use the internet more frequently and with more convenience. However, internet penetration often pertains to the current state of development regarding communications networks. As of March 2017, there were approximately 731 million total internet users in China and 287 million total internet users in the United States. However, broadband internet usage is not equally present in many countries and due to infrastructure reasons, developing online markets rely strongly on mobile connections. Subsequently, global mobile data traffic is set to surpass 49 exabytes per month in 2021, up from 7 exabytes per month as of 2016.
Number of internet users in selected countries as of 2017
Statista - July 2017
This statistic gives information on the number of internet users in selected countries in 2017. During the reported period, China had 1 billion internet users. The India was ranked second, as 332 million Indians accessed the internet via computers or mobile devices.
Number of internet users in selected Latin American countries as of January 2017
Statista - January 2017
This statistic gives information on the number of internet users in selected Latin American countries. As of the January 2017, the total Brazilian online population amounted to 139 million people, almost double than second-ranked Mexico's 76 million.
Number of internet users in the Asia Pacific region as of January 2017, by country
Statista - January 2017
The above statistic shows the number of internet users in the Asia Pacific region as of January 2017. As of that month, China had 731 million internet users. Second-ranked India accounted for 462 million internet users despite only 35 percent online penetration. As of June 2014, in a distribution of internet users worldwide, the Asia Pacific region accounted for 44 percent of all internet users aged 15 and above. Asia Pacific’s share at that time was more than Europe and North America combined, which reveals its dominant position in the market.
Internet usage worldwide - Statistics & Facts
Statista - January 2017
There was an estimate of 3.5 billion internet users worldwide in 2016. This means about 45 percent of the global population accessed the internet that year. The majority of global internet users are located in East and South Asia, while China is the largest online market in the world. In 2016, China had over 721 million internet users, more than double the amount of third-ranked U.S. with nearly 290 million internet users. India ranked second in number of users; Brazil and Japan complete the top 5. English is the most common language on the internet by share of users, followed by Chinese and Spanish. South Korea has the world's fastest average internet connection speed – 27 Mbps as of 2016. The global average internet speed stood at 6.1 Mbps that year.
Internet usage statistics
Internet World Stats / Miniwatts Marketing Group - 2018
Connecting Capabilities
The Economist Intelligence Unit / Telstra - 2016
Organisations can use technologies to improve processes and create new products, services and channels to market. Digital transformation efforts are therefore top of mind for executives as they can lead to cost savings, greater innovation and can also be used to fend off companies who seek to disrupt entire industries through new business models.
As e-commerce and digital processes become more important to business, especially as new digital native competitors such as Alibaba, Snapchat, Baidu and Flipkart disrupt traditional markets, access to high quality digital infrastructure, human capital and industry technology ecosystems are critical to success and can serve as a global competitive advantage for countries and companies alike.
At the same time, organisational ability to compete is often impacted by the digital environment around them and constraints in terms of legacy systems, processes and mindsets. To assess the overall environment for potential digital transformation within 11 economies (China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand), this report introduces the Asian Digital Transformation Index. It goes beyond a narrow definition of digital transformation at organisations to also assess whether the overall environment is conducive to it across three pillars: enabling ICT infrastructure, pool of relevant talent and willingness to partner with others.
In addition to geographic differences, a survey conducted for this report also captures efforts across six industries: manufacturing, financial services (including insurance), media (including broadcasting and technology), healthcare, professional services and logistics (including transportation). We assess variations in appetite for digital disruption within the confines of the digital environment available to them.
Smartphone Ownership and Internet Usage Continues to Climb in Emerging Economies
Jacob Poushter - February 22, 2016
As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, both economically and socially, technology adoption remains one of the defining factors in human progress. To that end, there has been a noticeable rise over the past two years in the percentage of people in the emerging and developing nations surveyed by Pew Research Center who say that they use the internet and own a smartphone. And while people in advanced economies still use the internet more and own more high-tech gadgets, the rest of the emerging world is catching up.
Mobile Broadband at the Bottom of the Pyramid In Latin America
Telecom Advisory Services, LLC - June 2013
Mobile networks have already contributed to addressing the demand gap of voice telephony in the region. Replicating that experience, wireless operators will also contribute to the reduction of the broadband gap in the region. Along these lines, this study focuses on the analysis of the recent trend in the launch of services and the decline of prices, which help position mobile broadband as a fundamental contributor to serve the aforementioned purpose.
The study first presents an analysis of the broadband affordability barrier in the region. To do so, it begins by quantifying the demand gap in the region, defined as the population served by broadband networks but that do not acquire Internet access services.
In particular, the analysis concentrates on the portion of the demand gap attributed to economic affordability. On this basis, it argues that mobile broadband will help overcome the economic barrier, demonstrating that adoption of this technology will go beyond the complementarity effect (which establishes that mobile broadband is primarily adopted by fixed broadband users). In this sense, it shows how mobile technology is creating a new generation of Internet users, which are primarily dependent on the mobile platform for access.
Mobile Economy Latin America 2013
GSMA Intelligence / BCG / - 2013
Latin America now accounts for 10% of the global mobile market in terms of revenues, and the 9% year-on-year growth rate in 2012 made it the second fastest growing region globally. The mobile market in Latin America is now moving to a new phase of development, characterised by increasing market maturity and by slowing revenue and subscriber growth. However, significant growth potential remains, with future growth likely to be driven by new services and applications and by the accelerating take up of mobile broadband. Mobile is already a cornerstone of the economy in Latin America, generating over 3.7% of the region’s GDP in 2012, as well as making important contributions to employment and public funding. Mobile also makes an important social contribution, helping to close the digital divide and addressing a range of social issues in areas such as health, education and sustainable development. However, if the mediumterm potential of the mobile industry to drive social and economic development in the region is to be fully realised, it requires a supportive and transparent regulatory regime. This includes the need for a clear and consistent approach to licence renewals; releasing adequate spectrum for mobile use (especially the Digital Dividend bands), and a coordinated policy and regulatory regime to allow operators to address the pressing issues around quality of service.