/issue/2016.11

India recently overtook United States as the second largest Internet user base, reaching 462 million users. The web is currently accessible to roughly 38% of the population, which gives it further room for growth in the coming years. The number of people online has remarkably doubled from 2014 to 2016 and this is showing no signs of slowing down. An interesting fact is 38% of those online are from rural areas showing the rate of development in the country.
 

An average Indian user spends close to 3 hours a day online, accessing the web via their mobile phones - mainly through apps (24%) and social media (20%). A market report released last year by consulting firm Zinnov estimated that India's market for mobile commerce was worth $2 billion in 2014 and is estimated to grow up to $19 billion by 2019. With the availability of more affordable smartphones in the region, the number of users is expected to balloon. Projections by Cisco put the number of smartphone users in India at 651 million by 2019.

If you look at the growth in greater detail you can see it took around 10 years to move from 10 million to 100 million users and only 3 years to move from 100 million to 200 million. Astonishingly it only took a year to go from 300 million to 400 million years. The future is looking bright in India.

.网站 （.xn—5tzm5g) IDN new TLD is now open for general registrations by eligible registrants anywhere in the world!

.网站, pronounced "wang zhan", is the most natural way to refer to the web in Chinese.

A quick search online reveals clear preference for using the Chinese term "网站" to refer to the web, showing almost 4 times popularity against its closest rival:

• .网站 (.WEB) - 2,520,000,000 results
• .中文网 (.Chinese Web) 60,000,000 results
• .网址 (.WebAddress) 649,000,000
• .网页 (.WebPage) 508,000,000

The term "网站" literally translates to "website", while as a domain name ".网站' means ".WEB" in Chinese. From company websites to social media groups or mobile applications .网站 provides a meaningful identity and destination for our online presence.

In Short, .网站 is the:

• Most Natural Chinese language phrase representing ".WEB"
• Most Popular Chinese term for identifying eb presence
• Most Comprehensive in reaching for the global Chinese audience

This exciting new IDN TLD is brought to you jointly by industry experts from DotAsia and Afilias, with global capacity, regional knowledge and local touch.

For more information please visit
www.NIC.网站 or connect with us at info[at]namesphere.asia.

The Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum (APrIGF) Taipei 2016 ended on a high. The 4-day conference hosted by NIIEPA and the Ministry of Transportation and Communication (MOTC) attracted over 300 multi-stakeholders from Asia Pacific region with the Father of Internet, Dr. Vint Cerf, joining remotely and giving opening remarks, and a cybertiger, Ajitora, jumping out at the closing plenary. The agenda was packed with over 30 parallel workshop sessions and townhall plenaries. Human rights issues such as freedom of speech, gender rights and Internet access remain hot topics. The 2016 Synthesis Document reflected the robust meeting discussions as well as wide community input. Check out the meeting website at http://2016.aprigf.asia for meeting archives and the final synthesis document.

NetMission.Asia is an Ambassadors Program supported by DotAsia Organisation, which aims to bring together a network of dedicated young volunteers to promote digital inclusion, Internet governance as well as a respectable and harmonious Internet environment.

For 2016, our 6th class, we recruited 20 students from various Hong Kong universities for the program. The first training session was conducted on 22 & 23 Oct 2016, orienting our new class on Internet Governance (IG) issues, and empowering them to get involved in the IG policy discussion processes. Ambassadors uphold the mission to promote a better Internet by directly participating in local, regional and global Internet policy discourse (ICANN meetings, United Nations Internet Governance Forums, and national and regional initiatives) and organizing local and regional youth engagement and awareness raising events, including workshops and the Youth Internet Governance Forum for children and youth.

Apart from bringing Jamie's Oliver's Food Revolution campaigns from UK to Asia, Go.Asia anchors the importance of Food Education to the community. Empowered by Jamie's Italian Hong Kong and Gift for Kids Foundation, the "Eat Smart Little Chef" interactive food education program has accomplished a lot in 3 consecutive years. Targeting kids aged 6-12 from local underprivileged groups, a total of 120 kids enjoyed 6 sessions of food experimental workshops of tasting Italian pizza/pasta and learning about where the ingredients come from. Go.Asia, together with a network of local beneficiaries, such as Po Leung Kuk, Caritas Jockey Club Integrated Service for Young People, Holy Carpenter Church Community Centre and Yan Chai Hospital Social Service Department spread this worthwhile message. Go.Asia looks forward to adapting this program and collaborating with more restaurants and caterers in near future.

Aji is calling everyone to join him on the 2-Thumbs Up Campaign to celebrate Global Tiger Day on 29 July. Each tiger has unique stripes like our fingerprints. Draw tiger stripes on both thumbs and take a 2-thumbs-up photo to show your support on doubling tigers by 2022. Use the hashtag #ThumbsUpforTigers !

On Global Tiger Day, Aji also announced an effort on stopping illegal online wildlife trade with a roundtable discussion organized at APrIGF Taipei with participation from ISPs, TRAFFIC and WWF representatives to develop a code of conduct and best practices for the industry.

Read our press release here: http://i.go.asia/2flSL3g

What's next? Aji is constantly on the road. Follow him on his facebook or twitter!