October 26, 2010

Emerging Markets and Internet Speed

Forbes Inconsistent Internet access and speeds across geographies can be both a risk and an opportunity.

The ongoing economic slump and stalling recovery has U.S. companies looking to emerging markets as an opportunity to bolster growth in the near and long term. The lure of these developing markets is irrefutable for companies looking for the kind of explosive growth that can right the ship in tough times.

And the proposition only gets more attractive when you do your research--we're seeing double-digit growth in Internet connections and significant growth in middle-class spending in many markets across the globe--including lucrative markets in Asia and the Middle East.

But as we look globally, the Internet is still a budding commodity that, while present across the globe, can be a vastly different experience from the one that you are using right now. The lack of consistent Internet access and speeds across geographies can be both a risk and an enormous opportunity for your business as it expands. Put simply, the businesses that can best optimize their websites and applications for better performance across the globe will have a distinct competitive advantage in the years to come.

Bandwidth and Latency Can Eat Your Revenue 
To reach Internet users in emerging markets, there are two key metrics that need to be understood. Broadband capacity and latency will both affect the performance of your website, and they both have a significant impact on your bottom line. Properly navigating both will require careful planning before entering emerging markets, but few businesses realize this is a strategic issue before expanding more...