Quick Summary
As the ASEAN Economic Community goes into effect this year, this report compares data on Internet connectivity, infrastructure and investment across 10 ASEAN economies and proposes broad and specific measures by which the region can, with the Internet’s help, create a single market and production base. It compares data on Internet connectivity, infrastructure and investment across 10 ASEAN economies and finds that Internet interconnectivity and interoperability of systems and platforms between and within countries are instrumental in driving the free flow of information, goods, services and investment across Southeast Asia.
You can find the executive summary of the report here.
Key Findings
Internet penetration
ASEAN, while diverse, can be clustered into three groups by Internet penetration rates
- Above 60%: Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia
- 25%-50%: Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam
- 1%-20%: Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar
Wholesale and Retail Proces
In many economies, particularly in lower-income countries, the price of Internet connectivity costs remains high.
Mobile Phones and Wireless Devices
In all ASEAN countries the use of mobile phones has overtaken fixed lines, and as the cost of devices such as smartphones and tablets fall, there is a clear trend toward even greater usage of mobile devices to access the Internet
There are still significant gaps in national network coverage in several ASEAN countries that urgently need to be bridged if the Internet is going to be more universal.
Broadband
The role of Wireless broadband is the growing means of Internet access for low and middle-income citizens of ASEAN economies.
Network capacity
In cases of market failure, governments can help bridge the gap between supply and pent-up demand until a sustainable virtuous cycle of Internet development has developed.
IXPs
The lack of international bandwidth, along with anti-competitive market conditions for IXPs and ISPs, translate into unaffordable Internet access and poor speed in countries that need it the most.
Media Contact:
Wende Cover
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