ICT, Economics, Global: The Government and Technology Summit recently held in Dubai and with Intel as silver sponsor, was targeted at senior IT decision-makers from the public at large and from government.

The world’s developing nations must regard information and communication technology (ICT) as the key driver for economic growth. This was the view of Intel’s MEA and Turkey President Abdulrahman Jarrar. In his opinion ICT can make a real difference to the speed of development, but only if public and private sector co-operate: “More attention needs to be paid to the role IT can play in helping raise social and economic standards in the developing world…If the world’s governments and technology firms continue to work apart, then only slow progress will be made...Partnering public and private sector on compelling ICT initiatives in developing nations can have more of a powerful impact on the socio-economic structure of a country than having vendors and governments going it alone.”

The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), held in 2003 in Geneva and in 2005 in Tunisia, (at which Developing Telecoms was launched) had already shown the importance of ICT and the way it is transforming the world - and as an economic developer rather than just a means of communication.

“Intel’s aim is to enhance lives by accelerating access to uncompromised technology for everyone everywhere in the world, through its World Ahead programme and through its Digital Transformation Initiative for the Middle East,” explained Mr Jarrar. Intel’s World Ahead Programme launched globally earlier this year is designed to enhance lives by accelerating access to that very uncompromised technology for everyone, anywhere. It is aimed at people in the world’s developing regions, integrating and extending Intel’s efforts to advance progress in the areas of accessibility, connectivity, and education.

Abdulrahman Jarrar continued: “We aim at accomplishing this not only by extending digital accessibility but to develop the right technology tailored to local needs, drive critical connectivity, cultivate sustainable local capabilities and provide the education needed to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.”

By the end of 2004, there were an estimated 840 million Internet users worldwide – just over 13% of the world’s population. Highest penetration rates are in Europe and the Americas. While Internet penetration lags in Asia and Africa in comparison with the rest of the world, technology that embraces Wi-Fi and WiMAX is helping to bridge the gap via last-mile broadband technologies.