As with previous years, MarkPlus Insight released data regarding the use of Internet in Indonesia. The conclusion drawn from this report is that the number of Indonesian Internet users towards the end of 2012 have reached 61.08 million people. That number is 10% higher than the same period last year. Compared to the total population, the penetration rate has reached 23.5%.

How did MarkPlus Insight come to this figure? The company conducted a survey of 2151 people between the ages of 15 to 64 across three social segments, A, B, and C, living in 11 major Indonesian cities. The survey was also conducted to discover the behaviors among Internet users.

Some of the findings are as follows:

• 40% of Indonesian internet users (24.2 million) access the Internet more than 3 hours per day
• 58 million people (95%) go online from notebooks, netbooks, tablets, or cellular devices
• Largest community of Intenernet users are dominated by the middle class
• Majority of Internet users are between 15 and 35 years old
• 56.4% are bargain hunters who are willing to spend hours on the Internet to seek for the best deals for their needs
• 3.7 million people (6%) have conducted e-commerce transaction
• Budget for online purchase is Rp 150,000 on average

These findings may not be 100% accurate as the results are based on a survey. Regardless, there’s something more important than debating the validity of these numbers, and that is how to more positively take advantage of the massive number of Internet users in Indonesia to create something productive that produces revenue as well as positive ideas and collaboration for the good of the nation.