Local Internet usage set to soar.

THE Internet is fast becoming a necessity in the lives of many Malaysians.

Growth of Internet usage in Malaysia has been positive thus far. Linus Lai, a research manager at International Data Corp (IDC), predicts a 14 per cent Internet penetration with the total of three million users for the year 2001. In year 2005, the six-million mark would be reached if the growth rate is at 20 per cent.

According to IDC, Malaysia's compounded annual growth rate up to year 2005 will be 20 per cent compared to the region's average rate of 13 per cent. By 2005, the number of Internet users in Malaysia is expected to make up three per cent of the region's total Internet users. As of last year, one-third of these users have made purchases via the Internet over the last 12 months. This puts Malaysia one step closer to electronic commerce (e-commerce).

B2C SCENE

In Malaysia, it is all about business-to-consumer (B2C). From the results of a survey conducted by IDC, it can be concluded that 65 per cent of Net consumers are male. College and university graduates make up …