Nortel Networks Forecasts 150 Million European Internet Users by 2005

Far from being over, the European
Internet boom is just beginning, said
Nortel Networks,
quoting a new report prepared for it by Ovum.

The new research forecasts that the number of Internet users in
Western Europe will grow from 38 million today to 150
million within six years.

John Roth, president and CEO of Nortel Networks, announced
the results of the report at the Telecommunications ’99
trade show.

“The growing numbers of Internet users signals a bright
future for e-commerce throughout Europe, where it is just
beginning to really develop, compared to the U.S., which
accounts for more than half of all online users and 75
percent of all e-commerce transactions worldwide,” said Roth.

Other forecasts that were made in the study included
an estimate that peak-time international bandwidth
traffic in Western Europe will rise to 1,700 gigabits per
second (Gbps) from its current 41 gbps, a 40-fold increase.
However, voice traffic will represent only 3 per cent of
the traffic, says the report.

“The study released today really helps to identify the
infrastructural needs to support the next generation
Internet and to help fulfill its true potential as the
world’s preeminent media for communication, commerce,
learning, and recreation,” said Roth.

Among the chief concerns of European Internet users are
quality of service, security and confidentiality,
according to Ovum. Slow service, in particular, was
cited by most users, including latency and the high
number of connection attempts needed while surfing.