The Internet in Macau: A case study of telecommunications structure and policy in a former Portuguese colonial enclave

Macau is a 400-year-old Portuguese colony in the Pearl River Delta in southeastern China. Portugal returned the colony to China on 20 December 1999. In light of its history, Macau is an interesting case study of how colonial policies affect adoption of new technologies such as the Internet. Companhia de Telcomunicações de Macau is the only company licensed to provide telecommunications services in Macau. This study examines: (1) the relationship between the Macau government and CTM as an ISP; (2) the relationship between CTM and other Internet companies in Macau; and (3) the relationship between Internet companies and users in Macau.