What’s the web really worth?

The web economy within G20 countries is set to almost double in value from £1.5tn to £2.7tn by 2016, according to top flight management consultants, The Boston Consulting Group.

The research predicts cheaper smartphones will lead to an estimated 80% of all internet users having web access through mobile phones by 2016. This rise in mobile media will see the role of traditional copper wire and desktop PC internet access diminish.

The Boston Consulting Group say this will mark ‘the emergence of a new internet’, and the web will not be a luxury anymore but something everyone has access to.

It is expected China will have almost 800 million people using the internet. This is more than the United States, India, France, Germany and the UK all put together.

Entrepreneurs who embrace the opportunities available in the web economy now are expected to far outperform those who don’t.

Patrick Pichette, Google's chief financial officer, says, ‘Understanding the economic potential of the web should be an urgent priority... [with] a powerful case for countries and companies to get online and reap the rewards of an age of data.’

In recent months there has also been a rise in the ‘internet of things’, where all kinds of devices from sensors to cars to radiators are connected to the web. Technology giant IBM estimates that by 2015, one trillion devices will be internet-connected. This will be a game changer too. Make sure your business stays ahead of the game to get mobile and get integrated or risk being left behind.

Are you ready for mobile internet?

Does your business have an app?

What are you doing to keep up with emerging internet usage trends?