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Arab Region Internet & Telecom Summit Muscat, Oman, 28 – 30 May 2001 Overview of Internet in Arab States Abdulilah Dewachi Regional Adviser Telecommunications and Networking adewachi@escwa.org.lb
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Arab Region Internet & Telecom SummitMuscat, Oman, 28 – 30 May 2001 Overview of Internet in Arab States Abdulilah Dewachi Regional Adviser Telecommunications and Networking adewachi@escwa.org.lb The views expressed in this presentation are those of the regional adviser and do not necessarily represent those of UNESCWA
The Digital Divide 86% world GDP 93% Internet users Income 1% world GDP 0.2% Internet users
Internet Access by Region November 2000Nua Internet Survey Arabs are 3% of world population
Internet share of population by region March 2000(UN Secretary General Report)
Arab States Sub-regions • Eastern Arab States (7) • Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, WB&G, Yemen • North African Arab States (9) • Algeria, Comoros, Djibouti, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia • Gulf States (6) • Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, SA, UAE
Five indicators • Fixed lines • Mobile lines • PC’s • Internet hosts • Internet users
Voice Over IP Officially allowed in: • Egypt • Saudi Arabia • Oman
Available modes of connection • Dialup • The most common mode of connection • ISDN • Available in most countries but not used extensively • Leased • Available but expensive • ADSL, Broadband, Cable, Satellite, Etc. • Only few countries • VPN
Mobile connection Could be very interesting in the absence of robust hard infrastructure • Special prepaid cards • About to be introduced in some countries • (e.g. Lebanon) • WAP • Limited interest and popularity • GPRS and 3G • ?
Seven “Soft” indicators • Human Development Index • Gender Development Index • School Enrollment Ratio • Adult Literacy • Education Index • Internet hosts • Internet users
Internet Usage Profiles Place of access • 72% of users acces the net at home • 22% go online at work • 4% from educational institutions • 2% from Internet cafes
Internet Usage Profiles Educational Level • 27% high-school or less • 44% bachelors degrees • 18% graduate diplomas or masters • 3.5% PhD or doctoral degrees
Internet Usage Profiles Age • 31.9% are between 21 and 26 • 37.7% are between 27 and 35 • 15.7% are between 36 and 45 • 4.5% over 60
Internet Usage Profiles Distribution across professions • 15% IT and telecom engineers • 11.1% other engineers • 10% computer technicians • 5.4% management and consultants
Women on the Internet • United States of America 38% • Brazil 25% • Japan 17% • Russia 16% • China 7% • Arab States 4%
Electronic Commerce Electronic Government The Arabic Language Quality of Web Sites Content
Electronic Commerce Electronic Government The Arabic Language Quality of Web Sites Content
Goods purchased over the Internet in the Middle East year ending April 1999 $95m
Problem Areas • Government Role • Facilitator • Regulator and legislator • User • Local habits • Credit cards creditability • Freight charges
Problem Areas • Trade barriers • Disintermediation • Local and regional market • Import or export?
Electronic Commerce Electronic Government The Arabic Language Quality of Web Sites Content