Sri Lanka Reaches Double Digits Internet Penetration Rate
Still it may be a minuscule 0.20% of total Asian internet
population, but for a country with high impeding forces for innovation
adaptation; a 47% year on year growth in total internet penetration is a
significant achievement.
According to the latest statistics published by internetworldstats.com quoting ITU as
the source, Sri Lanka stood at 24th rank in Asia’s internet
penetration rates, with a 11.8% penetration into total population. This is the
first time, the country’s internet penetration rate passed the 10% mark.
As of 31st December 2011, there were 2,503,194
total internet users in the island nation. This is a 47% YOY growth compared to
previous year’s 1.7 million figure, which stood approximately around 8% of the
population. However, a significant majority of around 85% of these internet
users represent urban and suburban places, according to a sample survey we did
recently for one of our clients.
Country’s internet penetration rate increased during the
year 2011, largely driven by the adaptation of mobile broadband powered by
HSDPA and HSPA technologies. During the year 2011, competition among mobile
telco’s seemingly focused on data. In fact, in a country where mobile voice
penetration is almost 90%, and the internet penetration is just around 8% you
couldn’t expect a wiser thing to do for a mobile telco company, rather than
exploiting the market opportunities left over by the fixed line broadband
providers.
All in all, I see the 47% YOY growth rate as a loud alarm
for some companies in Sri Lanka who delays adapting their brands to Digital
Media revolution, citing ‘insignificant internet penetration’ as a reason.
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