Internet Development in Baltic Countries: Whether its similar or Different

Angele Kedaitiene

Paper gives analysis of the current state of Internet development and patterns of usage among the population of Baltic countries (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia). Internet is already far away from being an unknown technology in the Baltic countries. Usage of the Internet in Estonia reached 40% in 2003. Internet users in the Baltic countries, which seem to be the unique region, are similar regarding some characteristics, but different regarding the others, which are in majority. Profile of the Internet users differs from the profile of the general population in the Baltics. Internet users are considered to be the advanced part of the society, not from the financial point of view (e.g. being rich), but having the advanced intellectually. Researchers on the Internet all over the world are trying to answer the question what the Internet technology is used for, what it means for the users and what they are taking out of this technology.

KEYWORDS

Baltic Countries, Internet penetration, patterns of Internet development