It's the time of year when we can reflect on what's passed - so this week's Fact Box focuses on Internet growth in 2008. The number of people online has increased significantly. Happy weekend!

(P.S.We'll be changing the Fact Box from a weekly to a fortnightly feature from this week).

From Gigaom - It's Worldwide Internet, For Real This Time (December 2008)

• In 1999, 91 percent of Asian and 70 percent of African Internet capacity connected to the US.
• In 2008, only 54 percent of Asian countries’ international Internet capacity connects to the U.S., while only 6 percent of African countries bandwidth connects to the U.S., as Europe has become more of an Internet hub for Africa.
• International Internet capacity grew at a compounded annual rate of 57 percent between 2002 and 2008.
• In 2008, international Internet bandwidth rose 62 percent over 2007 as backbone operators continued to upgrade their networks to meet rising traffic requirements.
• Most annual growth was on optical cables that connected to Latin America and South Asia, which increased 119 percent and 112 percent, respectively, between 2007 and 2008.

From YoungBlood - SA will experience strong internet growth over the next 5 years says Goldstuck  (December 2008)

• The Internet user base in South Africa has seen its highest rate of growth since 2001, increasing by 12.5% to 4,5-million in 2008.
• There has been a 16% increase in Internet service providers.
• 12.5% jump in Internet users.
• Thanks to factors such as SEACOM and Fifa 2010, Goldstuck predicts that SA’s Internet Population will grow by 13.3% in 2009 & a whopping 17.6% in 2010.