OVERVIEW

As of 2014, Indonesia was home to some 88.1 million internet users, an increase of 16 million new users over the 2013 total of 71.9 million. This huge figure means that Indonesia’s internet user base constitutes of 35 % of the population.[1] Although the fast growth of internet usage in Indonesia has not been followed by a correspondingly rapid development in the nation’s infrastructure development, it is nevertheless a promising indicator that the communications and information sectors are improving.

For some, the above statistics are just that, statistics, however for many others, the rise of the Internet in Indonesia represents a huge business opportunity. Despite the country’s currently sluggish economic development, Kantar Worldpanel, a consumer-research institution, claims that consumption in Indonesia will remain vibrant throughout the year.[2] Moreover, when this consumer confidence is combined with the country’s rapidly growing Internet penetration, Indonesia has clearly become a huge potential market in the field of e-commerce. This year alone, the e-commerce market value in Indonesia is projected to fall between USD 1 billion and USD 10 billion.[3]