Internet policy and diffusion in China, Malaysia and Singapore

The Internet has had a revolutionary impact on culture, communication and economic development around the world. In their efforts of using this powerful technology as a means for leapfrogging and bridging the gaps with developed nations, developing countries face challenges of poor telecommunications infrastructure and difficulties in utilizing the Internet’s full potential and managing its information flow. By studying and comparing China, Malaysia and Singapore’s practices, this article attempts to examine how a national Internet policy can address these challenges and realize the benefits the Internet offers, and to explore what lessons developing countries can draw from a comparative approach to policy analysis.