Japan attempts online expansion to boost lagging economy

Internet penetration in European households has surged this year, prompted by a drop in connection costs, according to a report for the European Union Commission. THE REPORT, TO be officially released Thursday, found that the percentage of households using the Internet rose in the 15-nation bloc from 18 percent in March to 28 percent in October.In three countries - Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands - the rate topped 50 percent, besting even the U.S. level of about 40 percent. The surge was helped by increased competition among Internet-service providers like Deutsche Telekom AG and AOL Europe this year, pushing down traditionally high telephone charges for connecting to the Web and encouraging more Europeans to log on. Small-and-medium-sized businesses in Europe were also getting wired at a rapid pace, with around 70 percent connected to the Internet and 40 percent boasting their own Web site, the report found. Parliament on Wednesday passed a bill to try to boost Internet use in Japan and revive the nation’s struggling economy. The legislation, which takes effect in January, is designed to ease regulations for the Internet, set up rules to expand electronic commerce and make Internet access more affordable.