JupiterResearch says worldwide online population will increase from 1.1 bln users in 2006 to 1.5 bln in 2011, representing 22% of the overall worldwide population in that year. The rapid expansion of Internet access in the US, Canada, Japan, and Western Europe during the past decade has produced largely mature online populations in those countries and, as a result, they will witness comparatively slower Internet growth rates through 2011. North America’s share of the worldwide online population is expected to erode from 21% in 2006 to 17% in 2011. Online penetration will remain the highest in North America, measuring 76% by 2011. Western Europe is expected to mirror that penetration rate.