The number of internet users has increased from 4.8 million in 1998 to 7.5 million in 1999 and is expected to reach 19 million in 2003. There are reasons to be hopeful though. Foreign investment is heavy . Together, they will introduce cable-modern Internet access and a joint portal in the year 2000. Brazilians are using their newfound power of the internet to their advantage.
Brazil also has the largest number of virtual retailers in the region.
Pao de Acuar, one of the country s largest supermarkets, has been selling via the Net since 1996. It now claims to have 50,000 cyber-customers. Here are some other examples of Brazilian tech entreprenuership. Bradesco, the country s largest private commercial bank, has more than 750,000 customers banking over the Net and is adding 1,000 per day. Although developing more slowly than the internet explosion in the United States, information technology will change the landscape of Brazil and Latin America.