TMCnet News
Research and Markets: in Canada, Broadband is Defined as Speeds in Excess of 64Kbps, a Lower Threshold Than in Other Countries.DUBLIN, Ireland --(Business Wire)-- Dec. 8, 2004 -- Researchers agree that an Internet broadband connection is an enabler of online buying. With a dial-up connection, pages load slower and transactions take more time to complete. For 2004, this report estimates that 5.2 million Canadian households will have a broadband connection, accounting for 66% of online households. By 2007, 81% of online households will have a broadband connection. PricewaterhouseCoopers notes that Canada is the only country where broadband overtook dial-up access in 2003. In Canada, broadband is defined as speeds in excess of 64Kbps, a lower threshold than in other countries. This partially accounts for Canada's high broadband penetration rate. Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c10782) has announced the addition of Consumer E-Commerce in Canada: Firing Up the Internet Economy Growth Engine to their offering Canada ranks high in Internet usage and broadband adoption rates. What's more, it's a leader in Internet services such as online banking -- a higher percentage of Canadians than Americans bank online. Surprisingly, though, Canada's enthusiasm for the Internet has not translated into e-commerce leadership. The question is, why? This report is for the attention of - Online Marketers, - Advertising Agencies, - Retailers and Software, - Hardware, - Telecom and Internet Providers. The Consumer E-Commerce in Canada report analyzes the reasons behind why Canadians spent only $3 billion shopping online last year, less than 1% of the $688 billion in total personal spending for the year. The source of the problem does not lie with one segment of society. Canadian consumers have been overly cautious in their online purchasing habits. Retailers have been slow to invest in Internet technology. And, finally, the government has been complacent about introducing strategic initiatives that could stimulate Canada's e-commerce economy. As there is not one problem, there is not one solution. Firing up the Canadian e-commerce engine will require a coordinated three-pronged effort by the federal government, the business community and higher educational institutions. A good place to start is the EIU's 2004 e-readiness rankings, which identified connectivity and technology infrastructure and consumer and business adoption as the two e-business areas where Canada has the most room for improvement. Questions the Report Answers: - In what areas of Internet development is Canada a world leader? - How big is the consumer e-commerce market in Canada? - What are its growth prospects? - What factors are holding back consumer e-commerce in Canada? - How do Canadian and US online consumers differ? - What e-commerce opportunities exist for domestic and foreign retailers in Canada? - Is Canadian Internet penetration reaching a saturation point? Sources: ComQUEST Research comScore Networks Inc. Decima Research eMarketer Forrester Research International Data Corporation (IDC) Ipsos-Reid Kinetic Strategies Inc. Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications - Japan PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Statistics Canada University of Michigan Business School Wilkofsky Gruen Associates For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c10782 |
