The current annual growth rate of the Internet is approximately 100% per year, as measured by the actual number of users and computers directly connected to the Internet (AKA nodes or hosts). From January 1995 to January 1996, the number of host computers in Denmark grew from approximately 26,000 to 52,000. An annual doubling of the number of host computers has taken place over the past 6 years, and there is no indication this rate will slow in the near future. A conservative estimate of the number of actual users is 75,000. The present users are mainly well-educated men under 40 years old--a statistic that is common in other countries.

Denmark ranks 8^th internationally, and is neither losing ground nor gaining it with respect to the Internet. In January 1996, the Ministry of Research and Information Technology reported that Denmark had approximately 10 host computers per 1,000 inhabitants (figure 1). The World Development Indicators (1997) reported approximately 14.7 and 31.3 Internet hosts per 1,000 people in Denmark and the United States, respectively. Still, Finland is ranked number one in this respect with over 40 computer hosts per 1,000 inhabitants. It is a general trend that the Internet is most widespread in countries where English is not a barrier.

As of April 1, 1996, every sixth firm (17%) with more than 20 employees had a graphical Internet connection. By the beginning of 1997, that percentage was expected to increase to approximately 27%. It appears that the larger the firm, the more widespread the Internet.

Danish firms connect to the Internet to participate actively and to conduct business, as shown in figure 2. Of the firms that are connected to the Internet, almost one-third has its own home page, and another third is planning on establishing one in the near future. Apparently, the size of the firm has no bearing on whether or not it has a home page. Further, 92% of the firms that have their own home page consider one of its main purposes to be marketing.

One of the main networks in Denmark is DENet, which is a network for research and education in Denmark. The Danish National Host is Tele Danmark Datacom is providing the basic infrastructure for DENet. At a higher level, interconnection may occur via NORDUNET. For further discussion on DENet, please go to the IT Geographics chapter of this report.

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