No.11   August 1, 2000   The Internet Industry in the Chinese-Speaking Areas of East and Southeast Asia   Shingo KONOMOTO        There were more than 10 million Internet users in the Chinese-speaking areas of East and Southeast Asia (i.e., including Hong Kong and Taiwan as well as China) at the end of 1999, and that figure is expected to exceed the number of users in Japan by the end of 2001. Information travels instantly in the Internet industry, and there are no national boundaries. The latest business models from the United States can be adopted immediately in East and Southeast Asia, where a Chinese-speaking market is developing across national boundaries. This development comprises two interrelated trends: greater emphasis on local content and greater cooperation among content providers in different countries. If Japan is to make its mark on the Internet industry in these areas, it will not only have to contribute technology and know-how but also develop the conceptual skills needed to be able to lead the alliances that are being formed. Contents I Number of Internet Users in East and Southeast Asia Continues to Grow Rapidly II The Emergence of an Internet Industry in China 1 The Rapid Diffusion of the Internet 2 High Internet Access Charges 3 Internet Access via Cable TV 4 Monitoring Information on the Internet 5 Current State of the Internet Industry 6 Seeking Venture Capital and Going Public 7 Payment and Distribution as Impediments to E-Commerce III More Web Sites in Taiwan Than Anywhere Else in East and Southeast Asia 1 The Internet Industry Takes Root 2 Portals and News Channels Form the Mainstay of Taiwan's B2C Internet Industry 3 Internet Trading Soars 4 Cable TV to Provide a High-Speed Network Infrastructure IV Hong Kong as the Gateway to East and Southeast Asia V The Future of the Internet Industry in the Chinese-Speaking Areas of East and Southeast Asia VI What Role Should Japan Play? GO to PDF