Surging Internet usage on the back of infrastructure advances in the next three to five years could push the value of the industry in Asia up to US$200 million, according to Morgan Stanley Dean Witter.
Internet users in Asia should reach 40 million in five years, up from eight million, the United States-based investment bank said.
Asia lagged far behind the US in Internet usage, especially in local content and advertising, said Morgan Stanley analyst Gurinder Kalra.
But it was not 'fair to say there's not enough content in Asia or a lack of advertising, since this industry only started 12 months ago', he said. 'I say give it another 12 months first.' Mr Kalra said usage would follow the development of the region's telecommunications companies, as they increasingly offered consumers faster Internet access.
'Control of the infrastructure will be key, since broadband and wireless technologies represent opportunities to leapfrog' those Internet providers offering conventional dial-up services.
Mr Kalra said 'there are tremendous first-mover advantages in being the first to bring broadband access to the home'.
