ICT Adoption and Prospects in The Arab Region

This report has been prepared as a background document for the ITU Connect Arab Summit, which takes place in Doha, Qatar from 5 to 7 March 2012. The main objective of the report is to provide an overview of the deployment and adoption of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the Arab region, and to carry out a needs assessment that will help policy makers in the Arab States to identify key ICT areas that require future action. The report in particular focuses on the ICT issues identified by the Arab States regional initiatives adopted by the World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-10), such as broadband access, digital broadcasting, opensource software, Arabic digital content and cybersecurity

This section presents an overview of the regulatory status, information and communication technology (ICT) deployment and adoption of ICT services in the Arab States region.1 The Arab region is a rapidly developing region in terms of ICTs and characterized particularly by strong growth in the area of mobile telephony over the last five years. The move towards commercially available 3G networks in almost all countries of the region has driven the number of active mobile-broadband subscriptions and helped bring more people online. ITU estimates that by the end of 2011, around 30 per cent of the population in the Arab States were using the Internet. Compared to mobile-cellular services (and in comparison to other regions) both fixed-telephone and fixed (wired)-broadband penetration rates in the region remain relatively low. The penetration for fixed-telephone subscriptions reached ten per cent at its highest and has been declining since 2008. The number of fixed (wired)-broadband subscriptions has grown from one million in 2006, to an estimated eight million in 2011, but penetration remains relatively low, at 2.2 per cent

In order to understand ICT developments within the Arab region, it is important to distinguish between ICT adoption and network deployments between the high-income GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries on the one hand, and the non-GCC countries, on the other hand. Due to ample oil reserves, GCC countries have higher income levels, which tends to translate into higher ICT adoption, stronger and wider network coverage and early migration to Next Generation Access Networks (NGANs). Chart 2 presents the 2010 GDP per capita in the Arab countries, with the six GCC countries ranking at the top, and GDP per capita levels above 15’000 USD. Qatar, with a GDP per capita of more than 61’000 USD has the highest income level in the region. Income levels in the non-GCC countries range from below 1’000 USD per capita in Comoros, to just under 10’000 USD in Libya, which also heavily relies on oil reserves. Despite a relatively high income level, Libya’s ICT networks, projects and adoption have remained substandard in rela ion to its peers (in terms of national income), mainly due to a political environment in which the ICT market has been dominated by a state-owned monopoly, except for mobile-cellular (voice) services, where two state-owned operators are competing with each other.

An overview of the regulatory landscape of key telecommunication services in the Arab States, demonstrates that there are important differences among countries in terms of the liberalization of services, as well as in the number of service providers operating each service. The most liberalized ICT services sector in the region is the mobile-cellular market, where Comoros and Djibouti remain the only two countries with only one mobile-cellular operator. In both Libya and Lebanon, two operators are competing, but both operators are government-owned.

ICT Adoption and Prospects in The Arab Region. International Telecommunication Union. 2012

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TCRP Synthesis 91: Use and Deployment of Mobile Device Technology for Real-Time Transit Information

Customer information is often a critical element of public transit authorities’ strategy not only for providing transportation services but also for encouraging and facilitating the use of these services. The expectations of riders and nonriders help define the parameters within which agencies provide information. In meeting these expectations, agencies consider that customer information must be relevant, accurate, timely, and targeted to meet a diverse number of needs that reflect their communities, and it is important that it be available in different formats by means of a wide range of dissemination media/channels. In TCRP Synthesis 68: Methods of Ridership Communication, three of the factors governing effective communication are the stage of the travel chain in which the communication is needed, the demographic characteristics of the communications recipients, and their ownership of and ability to use technology. Mobile technology, specifically mobile phones and smartphones, is one way for agencies to address these factors.

The demographics of transit riders have changed significantly over the past 5 years, with many more riders and nonriders using cell phones or even smartphones, which provide Internet access and other capabilities such as mobile e-mail and application programs. This change has prompted transit agencies to look beyond providing information by means of traditional dissemination media such as dynamic message signs, which require more resources to implement (e.g., costs for installation, power, communication, and maintenance). At the same time, agencies’ capabilities to provide real-time information have

grown considerably, with many agencies deploying technologies that allow them to provide customers with real-time information, such as when the next vehicles will arrive at a particular stop or station.

Starting in the early 2000s, many transit agencies in the United States began to offer static information on mobile devices, including timetables, service alerts, and trip planning. At that time, there were a limited number of mobile devices on the market, meaning that some agencies could develop simple applications for these devices in-house without significant expenditures. For example, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Bay Area Rapid Transit in the San Francisco Bay area developed its own applications for the Palm operating system (OS). However, since that time, the explosion of mobile devices on the market has made it virtually impossible for agencies to keep current on the types of devices and their specific requirements and to develop, manage, and maintain mobile applications for these devices. These developments, coupled with the fact that agencies can now provide more types of customer information, caused agencies to look outside their organizations for third parties to assist them in providing information on mobile devices.

This synthesis examines and documents the state of the practice in the use and deployment of real-time transit information on mobile devices using the following five dimensions:

• The underlying technology required to generate the information that will be disseminated on mobile devices, including the underlying software, hardware, and communications;

• The mobile technology used for information dissemination, including handset capabilities, and the specific mobile delivery channels used, such as text messaging [also known as short message service (SMS)], mobile Internet, and smartphone applications;

• The characteristics of the information, including message types, content, format, accessibility, and method of dissemination (push/pull); the use of standards; and the reliability and accuracy of the information;

• The resources required to successfully deploy information on mobile devices, including capital and operations and maintenance costs, agency staff requirements, customer costs, and other resources (e.g., managing an external application development program); and

• The contribution of mobile messaging to an overall agency communications strategy, including “information equity.” Here, information equity is defined as providing realtime information by means of at least two dissemination media in both audio and visual formats.

This synthesis includes a review of the relevant literature, in addition to the results of a survey that was conducted as part of this project. This survey included items in the dimensions described earlier, as well as questions regarding lessons learned in deploying real-time information on mobile devices. This synthesis also contains the results of interviews with key personnel at agencies that have exemplary approaches to providing mobile information.

The literature review revealed a wealth of material on the subject of providing real-time information on mobile devices. The literature that focuses on the development of innovative mobile applications, use of mobile device technology to enhance real-time information (e.g., device location), and use of social networking is also plentiful and covers both U.S. and international studies. Four major conclusions resulted from the literature review. First, the

underlying technologies required to generate the real-time information provided on mobile devices are well understood. Several recent studies have documented the most innovative uses of the underlying technologies. For example, two European agencies describe combining real-time information with trip planning and providing this capability on mobile devices. 

Second, the literature confirms that it is important to consider certain characteristics of mobile technology when providing real-time information on mobile devices. Several papers discuss these factors, including mobile messaging reliability and usability, handset display dimensions, memory and processing speed, and access to communications networks. Third, although the deployment of real-time information on mobile devices is growing in the United States, there has been more deployment in Europe and Asia. However, the development of mobile applications based on “open data” is more prevalent in the United States. There is a distinct difference between the United States and Europe and Asia in embracing an opendata approach. Finally, using mobile phone location and social networking is revolutionizing the provision of real-time information on mobile devices. Even though the regulations governing mobile phone location tracking vary among the United States, Europe, and Japan (Linda Ackerman, James Kempf, and Toshio Miki, “Wireless Location Privacy: Law and Policy in the United States, EU and Japan,” Internet Society, Nov. 2003, http://www.isoc. org/briefings/015/), the use of mobile device location capability allows current location data to be combined with real-time information. And mobile devices can use real-time information provided by means of social networking sites, such as Twitter.

TCRP Synthesis 91: Use and Deployment of Mobile Device Technology for Real-Time Transit Information

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Korea.LAC Investment and Trade Facilitation Initiative

The main objective is to strengthen the trade, investment and technology relationship between Korea and LAC countries.

IDB.RG-T2065 : Korea- LAC Investment and Trade Facilitation Initiative

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China.Technology Needs Assessment (TNA) Project

The proposed project development objective is to enhance client capacity to assess climate mitigation and adaptation technology needs and to adopt global best practices. The results indicators for the project are given in Annex 1. Achievement of the development objective will be evaluated through: (a) the impact of the technology needs assessments conducted; and (b) the impact of the capacity strengthened at the national, sectoral and provincial levels related to climate technology assessments. The results indicators will be measured by: The demand for and stakeholder use of the completed technology assessments; and The demand for and stakeholder use of the technology-related functions of the national, sectoral, and provincial climate technology centers or networks.

World Bank.Document Date 2011/10/31.Document Type.Project Information Document.Report Number AB6805.Volume No 1 of 1

China.Technology Needs Assessment (TNA) Project

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New Delhi Workshop on Standards and Intellectual Property Rights, 19-20 December 2011

ITU-T Newslog.ITU is organizing a Workshop on Standards and Intellectual Property Rights in New Delhi, India, 19-20 December 2011. Taking place at the HMR Institute of Technology and Management, the event will be hosted by the Global ICT Standardization Forum for India (GISFI), and will be followed by the seventh GISFI meeting at the same venue, 21-22 December 2011.

One of the key aims of standardization is to enable the efficient ‘globalization’ of ICT products and solutions. IPR issues must be taken into consideration when developing standards, a process demanding a balance of varying stakeholder interests; such as those of patent holders, standards implementers and standards’ end-users. Additionally, SDOs frequently encounter copyright issues relating to the incorporation of software in standards.

Such patent and copyright issues are the subject of global debate, and the workshop is being convened to provide a forum for discussions relating to the inclusion of patented technology and software in standards. International experts from both the public and private sector will provide an overview of these issues and share their insights on the present nature of the issue and how it is likely to progress in the future.

Participation in the workshop is open to ITU Member States, Sector Members, Associates, Academia and to any individual from a country part of ITU’s membership. Fellowships are available upon request, please contact tsbworkshops@itu.int.

Strengthening the System of Science, Technology and Innovation in Costa Rica

This TC Intra seeks to review the experiences and lessons learned by ANII and other agencies in charge of promoting innovation in Uruguay for the diffusion and adaptation to the case of Costa Rica.

CR-T1079: Strengthening the System of Science, Technology and Innovation in Costa Rica


Strengthening the System of Science, Technology and Innovation in Costa Rica

Argentina: AR-M1062: Federal Government Procurment Portal

BID. Project Number: AR-M1062. Operation Number: ATN/ME-12977  AR.Country:Argentina.Sector:Information Technology and Telecomm. Subsector:Info and Communications Technology. Project Type:Multilateral Investment Fund Operation.Project Subtype:MIF Multilateral Investment Fund.Status:Approved. Approval Date:NOV 4, 2011

Argentina: AR-M1062: Federal Government Procurment Portal

World Bank.China Technology Needs Assessment

The proposed project development objective is to enhance client capacity to assess climate mitigation and adaptation technology needs and adopt global best practices.

Project Description [from section 3 of PCN]

Component 1: Technical Oversight, Synthesis and Dissemination. This component will support technical oversight and results synthesis of the technology assessments. An important component of this task will be peer review of the assessment methodologies and the sector level results. This component will also provide an outlet for dissemination through a series of workshops coordinating the steering committee and other stakeholders.

Component 2: Technology Assessments at the Sector and Provincial Levels. This component will support technology assessments of identified mitigation and adaptation sectors and several provinces.

Component 3: Capacity Building to Support Climate Technology Networks, TNA, and Technology Transfer. This component will consist of capacity building activities to support one national center, two sectoral centers, and five provincial networks with their own climate technology databases and personnel to serve as knowledge hubs in their respective areas. It will also include capacity building activities to better understand technology transfer mechanisms and the barriers to timely and widespread deployment of global best practice options.

Component 4: Project Management Office. This component will support the establishment and operation of the Project Management Office (PMO).

Project location (if known).

China, nationwide.

Borrower’s Institutional Capacity for Safeguard Policies [from PCN] The Government of China, through the Division of International Policy and Negotiations of NDRC and the national GEF focal point, has requested US$ 5 million from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to contribute to its own TNA. As one of the main counterparts of the Bank at the central level, NDRC is familiar with Bank's safeguard policies and procedures.

Document Date: 2011/11/08.Document Type:Integrated Safeguards Data Sheet.Report Number: AC5386. Volume No:1

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