Internet household penetration in central and eastern Europe (CEE) will grow quickly over the next five years, from just over 5% now to 21% in 2005, according to a new
Yankee Group Report [yankeegroup.com]
Not surprisingly as forerunners for this growth Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovenia are expected - first candidates for EU membership.
E-commerce is still lagging far behind western European countries, due to lower prvate incomes, lack of accepted payment mechanisms and general scepticism towards online shopping.
OTOH Eastern Europeans generally are very computer literate, and E-Mail as well as high office PC penetration serve as driving forces for acceptance of the internet.
Also many Countries have or will deregulate telecommunication infrastructure - thus opening the market to more competition and development.
