Recent statistics from Panama suggest the country is greatly expanding the range of its internet coverage. Figures from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) show close to a 10% increase in internet access in the country between 2008 and 2010 with curent data showing 42.75 internet users per 100 inhabitants.
This statistic is due to increase, with the Panamanian National Internet Network due to be greatly expanded over the coming year. The network provides internet access in central areas such as city halls, schools and health centres where members of the public can browse the web for free. By May 2011, 655 access sites had been set up in 22 cities. The government has pledged to expand the network to over 1000 sites by the end of the year. Such a scheme would see Panama lead the way in terms of internet coverage amongst Central American nations where only Costa Rica and Mexico had internet coverage of over 30% in 2010 (ITU).
However, doubts remain as to the effectiveness of the internet network. Despite figures stating the network will reach 80% of the population, recent figures show only 120 000 registered users of the service. For a country with a population over 3.4m, these statistics suggest that although the internet is available in a large number of public places, few people have signed up to the network and more could be done to encourage this.
