As an economic bloc, ASEAN is the fifth largest economy in the world. However, this is not reflected in the association’s adoption of digital transformation.

As an economic bloc, ASEAN is the fifth largest economy in the world. However, this is not reflected in the adoption of digital transformation.

Southeast Asia has shown itself to be one of the most rapidly advancing regions in the world.With a booming population of 644 million (and rising), half of whom are internet and social media users, you would expect that most people around the region would have access to most of the basic necessities required by a modern life. You may find it surprising, then, that some estimates point out that barely a quarter of the region’s population have a bank account.

The total population of the 10 ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member states has grown to over 640 million people in 2017 as the region is home to about 339.2 million internet users. It is currently the fourth largest internet market. Google revealed that Southeast Asia is expanding at a rate of almost four million users a month, making it the fastest growing e-commerce market globally.

Do you know how the internet works? Have you ever wondered how you could be sitting at home in Singapore or any other Southeast Asian country and be able to watch the latest "Game of Thrones" trailer on YouTube which was released in the US?

Fifty years since its formation, all 10 of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member states have seen rapid urbanisation. While the total population within Southeast Asia has reached over 640 million people in 2017, the internet penetration rate across has only reached 53 percent, which translates to 339.2 million internet users, as stated in the Digital in 2017: Southeast Asia report released by Hootsuite and We Are Social.