PRESS  

 

Athens 06/02/02
 

"Strategic's Internet Observatory 2001"
The most reliable guide for Greek and Cypriot Internet Market, is now available
Athens, 6 February 2002 - Continuing last year's trend, the Greek Internet Market seems to be one of the fastest growing New Economy Markets in the whole of Europe. The most important inhibitor of the past, the low Internet penetration among the population, seems to belong to the past, as Greek people having access to the world wide web were more than 760 thousand at the end of 2000 with almost a million users at the last months of 2001. In 2000, the total market size grew for another year by almost 80% and reached some 45,5 billion GDR. The Cypriot Internet Market is quite dynamic and shows strong potential for the future. The Market's value exceeded 22,6 million Euros, continuing its upward course. Continuing its successful effort to fully map the emerging Greek and Cypriot Internet Markets, Strategic International/ K.Kataras S.A. capitalizes on its rich New Economy Research and Publications activities and publishes its annual "Strategic's Internet Observatory 2001 - Greece and Cyprus", as part of a series of quality, information-rich annual publications for the New Economy.

 

Graph 1
Greek Internet users (thousand), 1998-2001

 

 
Source: Strategic International/K. Kataras S.A.
 
Greece continues the skyrocket course
 As Europe runs to win the e-race from the United States, the Greek society seems to be catching up with the rest of the European Union in Internet demographics.
Main driver of this phenomenon seems to be the sales of PCs, as most of them are escorted by an Internet connection. In 2000 alone, some 540.000 PCs were sold, with obvious benefits to the Greek on line population. The presence of computers in households is steadily rising. In Cyprus, Internet users almost reached 80 thousand in 2000. This growth of almost 32% brought Internet penetration to almost 16,9%, a figure very high for an Eastern Mediterranean country, comparable only to Western European levels.
Regarding Greek Internet companies, the top 3 places in the list are still held by ISPs for 2000. Following the three major Greek ISPs came companies coming from the Internet Services sector, mainly dealing with web design and e-commerce applications.
 

Table 1
The largest Greek Internet Corporations - 2000
Strategic's Top 10 Internet List

 

 
Source: Strategic International/K. Kataras S.A., Copyright 2001
 
Notes:

1

According to Strategic International S.A. definition, in order companies to be included in the above list, at least 50% of their revenues must come from pure Internet activities.

2

DOL Digital, IPNG: Ranked according to 1999 financial results since 2000 results are not yet published as of July 3rd, 2001.

 

The most accurate and valuable observatory of the Internet market by Strategic International S.A.
 The world of the Internet in Greece and Cyprus, as well as globally, is in the middle of turbulence. The sky-high expectations from the New Economy just were not met, resulting to global recession in stock markets and massive lay offs in the High Tech industry. But the Internet did not lose its magic. It still remains one of the most attractive and cost-effective means of doing business. Main trends of the Y2K were the explosive growth in e-commerce applications sales to Greek companies entering the www, as well as the upraise of on-line Financial Services, despite the significant drop of stock prices in the Athens Stock Exchange. There is, therefore, an increasing need for a qualitative and quantitative analysis of this market, such as a thorough discussion of the future trends. This need is covered by the annual publication "Strategic's INTERNET Observatory 2001 - Greece & Cyprus".
This year's issue is in English language and also available on CD ROM version, harmonizing with the requirements of globalization and the pan European expansion plans of many Greek and Cypriot New Economy companies. Inside it, the reader can find descriptions of Greek and Cypriot governmental strategies towards the Information Society, a thorough mapping of the Greek and Cypriot Internet industry, valuable overviews, trends and key figures for the Internet Markets, profiles of major companies of the sector, bios of key Internet personalities of Greece and Cyprus, and many more that render this publication, as well as the other annual publications of Strategic International (Telecoms Observatory 2001, IT Observatory 2001), an irreplaceable tool to the hand of entrepreneurs and decision makers involved or intending to involve in the field of the New Economy and Internet.

Information
 Those who want to obtain the Observatory can order it on-line at the site http://www.strategic.gr/ or by contacting Strategic International (Issiodou 8, 10674 Athens, e-mail: stratgc@otenet.gr or publications@strategic.gr,
Tel: (+3)-01-(0)- 7229571, Fax: (+3)-01-(0)- 7224531).

About Strategic International SA
 Strategic International SA (www.strategic.gr) is a Strategy Consulting firm specializing in Telecommunications, Information Technologies, New Media and the Digital Economy. The company has deep knowledge in the field, based on Market Research, Creative Analyses, International Customers and a strong network of partners in Europe. Main services include: Consulting, Market Research, Publications and Events.