New Study Says Venezuela is a World Leader in Increasing Internet Usage
Mérida, 13th August 2012 (Venezuelanalysis.com) Venezuela leads the world in increasing internet usage, according to a study by internet marketing research firm Comscore.
The study revealed that between April 2011 and April 2012 the number of people using the internet in Venezuela increased by 62%, ahead of India (34%) and Indonesia (29%).
The findings contrast with Venezuelas own national telecommunications body CONATEL, which reports that internet access here has increased by 7% in the past year.
According to CONATEL 40.27% of Venezuelans have access to the internet, up from only 3.4% in 2000, and there is a higher level of access than all countries in South America apart from Chile (58%), Argentina (57%) and Colombia (50%).
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The government of President Hugo Chavez has introduced a number of policies over the previous twelve years aimed at increasing internet access in Venezuela.
A key initiative has been the Infocentros; free to use internet cafes that now boast a network of 700 centres in low income and rural communities throughout the country. In January the Infocentro Foundation was awarded a prize by UNESCO in recognition for their role in providing access to information technology for traditionally excluded sectors of the population.
Since 2009, the government has also provided almost 2 million Canaima laptops to primary school children in order to incorporate technology use in the education system.
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