The Hindu Business Line : Major portals form body

Set up by HT.com, indiatimes.com, MSN.co.in, Rediff.com, Sify.com, Yahoo.co.in and the online media agency, Mediturf in January 2004, the not-for-profit organisation aims to increase the Internet user base to 100 million by year 2007.

The association plans to achieve its target through a multi-pronged strategy that involves partnership with the Government and trade bodies in a bid to shape policies and legislations that affect the industry.

Other measures that the association plans to use are encouraging the adoption of global standards and guidelines that would increase customer confidence and develop educational material through global and national partnership to raise the level of knowledge among members and users.

"We believe that the target of 100 million online users by 2007 is possible and at that size India will be one of the top five Internet markets in the world," Mr V.V. Kannan, Chairman, Internet and Online Association said.

According to Mr Kannan, there is also a huge potential for generating revenues through the Internet.

Given that online industry depends on advertising as a major source of revenue, the online advertising business over the coming year has the potential to generate business valued at Rs 100 crore. With the increase in penetration, "This business can grow to a few hundred crores in the next three years," added Mr Kannan.

The executive council members of the IOA include Mr Neville Taraporewalla (yahoo.com) as joint vice-chairman, Mr Ramani as joint vice-chairman and Mr Upen Rai as secretary along with Ms Preeti Desai who has been appointed as the president of the association.

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