World's web access tops 474 million

Nearly 15 million households around the world have linked themselves up to the internet during the last three months.

There are now a staggering 474 million households in the world with web access.

Not surprisingly the research, carried out by Nielsen//NetRatings, indicates that the US still accounts for the largest percentage of access numbers, comprising 39 per cent of the total internet population.

The figures also reveal how countries with differing levels of maturity will experience very different growth patterns over the next year. In Asia Pacific, where there is a very developed market, the growth rate will half.

However, in areas where adoption rates are low the pattern is quite different. In India, for instance, growth is set to double in the coming year.

In Europe, 16 million new households got web access in the last 12 months. But, for the coming year it is predicted only an additional ten million will join the web.

According to Nielsen//NetRatings, this signifies that Asia Pacific, Europe and the US are moving into an era where the internet is fully integrated into everyday life.

Other regions will take several years to match this level of maturity.