Research shows that, worldwide, the internet continues to grow
at an impressive rate. According to the study by Telegeography, the
telecom statistics and analysis firm, cross border internet links
grew 174% during the period July 2000 to July 2001. The cross
border links measured by Telegeography include general internet
applications such as e-mail or web page information requests.
Latin America was the area to see the highest level of growth,
Europe followed with the second highest percentage increase.
Although worldwide growth for 2000-2001 was less than the
1999-2000 rate of 382%, Jessica Marantz, Telegeography’s director
of business development explained that that this is not necessarily
a sign that the spread of the internet is slowing:
“some smaller regions have large growth
rates because they are starting from smaller numbers. It is
difficult for a region like the US to keep up growth rates that
have been high for several years. Growth rates like that are not
sustainable.”
Maranz added that one of the most important developments in
internet infrastructure that occurred in the last year was the
emergence of Europe as a secondary “hub” behind the US.
