SINGAPORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A newly published Internet Society survey on Internet policy trends in Asia-Pacific found that the majority of respondents would like their government to provide more opportunities for multi-stakeholder involvement in policymaking for the Internet.
The degree of satisfaction that stakeholders have with Internet policymaking processes was revealed in an annual study released today by the Internet Society. Now in its second installment, the Internet Society Asia-Pacific Regional Policy Survey this year polled 3,302 end-users from across the region on their attitudes towards current Internet policy issues.
While a high proportion of respondents cared about matters related to the Internet, many felt that they were not adequately equipped with the tools and knowledge to participate in state-led policymaking. Rajnesh Singh, Internet Society’s Regional Bureau Director for Asia-Pacific, said, “As the Internet becomes more embedded in people’s everyday lives, and becomes a crucial factor in socio-economic and human development across the world, it is important that policies about the Internet also reflect the needs and priorities of existing and future users.”
Such broad sentiments are significant particularly in advancing Internet usage in Asia-Pacific, whose Internet penetration hovers at 32% of the overall population according to estimates by the International Telecommunication Union.
Internet connectivity again emerged as the topmost concern for respondents in this year’s survey. Cloud computing, e-commerce and data protection were also high on their priority list, with over-the-top services (OTTs) now ranking among their top 10 most monitored issues, from being at the bottom in last year’s poll. OTTs, which refer to content and applications such as Skype and YouTube that are provided over the Internet independently of a telecoms operator, have been identified as a possible subject of regulation by several countries in the region.
The full Asia-Pacific Regional Policy Survey 2015 report is available here.
About the Internet Society
The Internet Society (www.internetsociety.org) is the trusted independent source for Internet information and thought leadership around the world. It is also the organizational home for the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). With its principled vision, substantial technological foundation, and its global presence, the Internet Society promotes open dialogue on Internet policy, technology, and future development among users, companies, governments, and other organizations. Working with its members and Chapters around the world, the Internet Society enables the continued evolution and growth of the Internet for everyone.