And about 40 per cent of this total have mobile Internet access with the number of mobile Internet users expected to reach 546 million by year-end.

Once on the Net, IDC predicts that users will continue to spend time on Web 1.0 activities such as search and e-mailing. But expect first-time users to quickly join the Net veterans in Web 2.0 activities such as watching user-generated videos, posting blogs and taking part in social networks.

Currently, over 50 per cent of online users worldwide use instant messaging and play online games.

With such activities going on, IDC projects that over 1.5 billion devices (including PCs, mobile phones and game consoles) will be used to access the Internet. And nearly half of all Internet users will make online purchases this year.

So, what do these numbers mean? For one, the Internet is increasingly being woven into the fabric of many people’s professional and personal lives.

Also, the sheer number of people and time spent online opens up endless opportunities for both users and service providers in all categories – consumers, citizens, businesses and governments. This is backed by the fact that the fastest-growing online activities include accessing business applications, creating blogs, online gambling, accessing work-related e-mail and taking part in online communities.

Is this reflective of the local Internet landscape? Unfortunately, no.

Figures provided by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission show that the penetration rate of dial-up Internet is 14.3 per cent and broadband, just 5.4 per cent.

The commission says the low penetration rate is due to the high cost of infrastructure and lack of demand and awareness on the benefits of broadband. Add to that is low PC penetration, low affordability to subscribe to broadband, and lack of local content.

These problems have existed since the inception of the Multimedia Super Corridor over a decade ago. Sadly, they have yet to be fully resolved even though some measures have been taken. No doubt, more must be done so the Internet can be ubiquitous for all Malaysians, not just pockets in the country.