Asia Overview
227
mobile sector. Malaysia ’ s mobile penetration rate in 2009 was 106 percent, with 21
percent of subscribers using 3G technologies.
5 Vietnam has seen strong growth in both
fi xed and mobile connectivity, with broadband subscription rates growing at more
than 40 percent annually
6 for the past two years and mobile penetration rates estimated to exceed 140 percent by the end of 2010.
7
China remains one of the most signifi cant examples of the growth of the Internet
in Asia. Although its penetration rate is relatively modest at 28.9 percent, its total of
almost 390 million Internet users in 2009 makes it the largest Internet population in
the world.
8 Much like its neighbors in the region, China has experienced a dramatic
growth in the mobile telephone sector. From having less than 100 million mobile
phones in 2000, the country is estimated to approach one billion phones by the end
of 2011.
9 The gap between urban and rural connectivity rates mirrors that of some of
its neighbors. A 2008 initiative by the Ministry of Information and Industry sought
to narrow this gap, extending broadband services to 92 percent of rural townships.
10
Despite improving the number of rural users to over 100 million by 2009, low incomes
and lack of access make Internet connectivity still a luxury for many.
11
In contrast, Burma remains one of the least connected countries on record, with
government restrictions, slow connection speeds, and prohibitive costs contributing
to a penetration rate of only 0.2 percent.
12 Fixed broadband subscriptions numbered
roughly 15,000, representing a penetration rate of 0.03 percent.
13 In Bangladesh, similarly, the government has launched initiatives to expand the ICT sector as a means of
driving socioeconomic development, but access remains relatively limited.
14 Penetration rates are below 0.4 percent of the population, and the fi xed broadband subscription rate is 0.03 percent.
15 Despite this low level of fi xed Internet access, the mobile
market is growing rapidly, with a 37 percent penetration rate.
16
Although India ’ s penetration rate is low at just over 5 percent,
17 the country is
experiencing a surge in mobile access. From roughly 10 million subscribers in 2002,
the mobile market is expected to exceed 750 million by 2011.
18 Pakistan has seen a
similar boom in its mobile and wireless market. While overall Internet penetration
rate is only 11.3 percent,
19 mobile penetration exceeds 60 percent.
20 Pakistan was also
home to the world ’ s fi rst countrywide deployment of the next-generation wireless
technology, WiMAX.
21
The case of Indonesia demonstrates the contribution that mobile technology can
make in an environment with expensive and limited fi xed connectivity. Given that
the monthly cost for fi xed broadband can be more than fi ve times that of mobile
access, subscription rates for fi xed broadband are below 1 percent.
22 Growth of mobile
subscriptions, however, was expected to exceed 20 percent in 2010, leading to more
than three-quarters of the population having a mobile phone.
23 Thailand has similarly seen the number of mobile subscriptions more than double between 2004 and
2009.
24
227
mobile sector. Malaysia ’ s mobile penetration rate in 2009 was 106 percent, with 21
percent of subscribers using 3G technologies.
5 Vietnam has seen strong growth in both
fi xed and mobile connectivity, with broadband subscription rates growing at more
than 40 percent annually
6 for the past two years and mobile penetration rates estimated to exceed 140 percent by the end of 2010.
7
China remains one of the most signifi cant examples of the growth of the Internet
in Asia. Although its penetration rate is relatively modest at 28.9 percent, its total of
almost 390 million Internet users in 2009 makes it the largest Internet population in
the world.
8 Much like its neighbors in the region, China has experienced a dramatic
growth in the mobile telephone sector. From having less than 100 million mobile
phones in 2000, the country is estimated to approach one billion phones by the end
of 2011.
9 The gap between urban and rural connectivity rates mirrors that of some of
its neighbors. A 2008 initiative by the Ministry of Information and Industry sought
to narrow this gap, extending broadband services to 92 percent of rural townships.
10
Despite improving the number of rural users to over 100 million by 2009, low incomes
and lack of access make Internet connectivity still a luxury for many.
11
In contrast, Burma remains one of the least connected countries on record, with
government restrictions, slow connection speeds, and prohibitive costs contributing
to a penetration rate of only 0.2 percent.
12 Fixed broadband subscriptions numbered
roughly 15,000, representing a penetration rate of 0.03 percent.
13 In Bangladesh, similarly, the government has launched initiatives to expand the ICT sector as a means of
driving socioeconomic development, but access remains relatively limited.
14 Penetration rates are below 0.4 percent of the population, and the fi xed broadband subscription rate is 0.03 percent.
15 Despite this low level of fi xed Internet access, the mobile
market is growing rapidly, with a 37 percent penetration rate.
16
Although India ’ s penetration rate is low at just over 5 percent,
17 the country is
experiencing a surge in mobile access. From roughly 10 million subscribers in 2002,
the mobile market is expected to exceed 750 million by 2011.
18 Pakistan has seen a
similar boom in its mobile and wireless market. While overall Internet penetration
rate is only 11.3 percent,
19 mobile penetration exceeds 60 percent.
20 Pakistan was also
home to the world ’ s fi rst countrywide deployment of the next-generation wireless
technology, WiMAX.
21
The case of Indonesia demonstrates the contribution that mobile technology can
make in an environment with expensive and limited fi xed connectivity. Given that
the monthly cost for fi xed broadband can be more than fi ve times that of mobile
access, subscription rates for fi xed broadband are below 1 percent.
22 Growth of mobile
subscriptions, however, was expected to exceed 20 percent in 2010, leading to more
than three-quarters of the population having a mobile phone.
23 Thailand has similarly seen the number of mobile subscriptions more than double between 2004 and
2009.
24