Assabi believes that, while technology is supporting online growth, local businesses are not making the most of the power of the Web, especially in some of their most important vertical markets.

'Internationally,' Assabi says, 'cost-effective broadband has led many European and American businesses to new levels of connectivity, allowing them to make better use of their existing technologies to improve service to consumers and businesses.'

While broadband is present in the local market in some shape or form, and adoption is seen to be high amongst businesses, according to the incumbent operator, the overall adoption figures make up a small percentage of the total market.

Having said that, SA is slowly making its mark in the international market by adopting Web technologies to better integrate business functions and deliver relevant information to relevant people.

The rest of Africa, Assabi says, still lags SA in many respects.