Global ICT Development Rankings Show Dynamic Connectivity Improvement in GCC Region

GCC region shows dynamic positive change in ICT connectivity in comparison to 2013; poised for innovative development.

Countries in the GCC region show the most dynamic positive changes in information and communication technology (ICT) in 2014, according to the ICT Development Index (IDI) released last week by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

ITU is a specialized agency within the United Nations committed to connecting people across the globe.

According to global rankings published in ITU’s Measuring the Information Society report, the UAE jumps 14 places to 32 of 166 countries. Oman moves up 9 places to 52. Qatar shows among the highest growth in household ICT connections, jumping 8 places to 34 overall.

The ICT Development Index

The IDI combines 11 indicators of the ICT access, use, and capacity of nations as a way to monitor progress toward a global information society. Overall IDI values are a product of three sub-indexes: 

1. ICT Readiness is a measure of fixed telephone subscriptions, mobile cellular subscriptions, Internet bandwidth per user, households with computers, and households with Internet access. 

2. ICT Use is a measure of the number of individuals that use the Internet, fixed broadband subscriptions, and wireless broadband subscriptions. 

3. ICT Skills is a proxy indicator of adult literacy, gross secondary enrollment, and gross tertiary enrollment.

ITU analysts weight ICT Readiness and ICT Use at 40 percent each, and ICT Skills at 20 percent to arrive at an overall IDI value of 0-10.

Demark has the highest IDI at 8.86, followed closely by Korea and other developed countries. African nations rank among the least connected countries. The Central African Republic has the lowest IDI at 0.96 versus the average IDI of 3.84 for developing countries.

Among the GCC region, the Kingdom of Bahrain ranks highest with an IDI value of 7.40, which is above the 7.20 average IDI for developed countries. The United Arab Emirates and Qatar are at similar stages of ICT development, ranking 7.03 and 7.01, respectively. Saudi Arabia and Oman are also well connected, ranking 6.36 and 6.10, respectively. According to ITU Communications Officer Monica Albertini, “Kuwait was left out of the IDI due to a lack of data for most of the indicators included in the index.”

                     IDI Rank and Value for GCC Countries

* Out of 166 countries

** Total possible score is 10; highest country score was 8.86

Location, Location, Location

ICT development is much slower in rural areas and among developing countries. Rural development, according to the ITU report, should remain a priority for policy makers internationally. 

While developers grapple with how to roll out fixed and/or mobile broadband access to the most rural world citizens, creative solutions to connectivity problems are suggested. Interim connectivity fixes include ensuring that public libraries, post offices, and schools have Internet access.

The Universal Postal Union indicates that increasing post office connectivity to 45% of all postal establishments would provide Internet connectivity to one-third of the rural areas and towns worldwide.

GCC: Fertile Soil for mHealth Development

The 2014 Measuring the Information Society report also focuses on the potential to use “big data” gathered from ICT to improve the health and welfare of people around the world.

Looking at the GCC region, combined with its robust economic growth since 2002, the dynamic increases in ICT connectivity suggest that the region can support significant investment in innovative digital technologies such as mHealth. 

Non-communicable diseases account for more than 60 percent of deaths in GCC countries. Many of these non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease are preventable, and share common risk factors, including diet, tobacco use, and a sedentary lifestyle. mHealth innovations to educate, motivate, and track positive health behavior changes could significantly reduce health care-related expenses in GCC countries. 

Jenn Lonzer has a B.A. in English from Cleveland State University and an M.A. in Health Communication from Johns Hopkins University. Passionate about access to care and social justice issues, Jenn writes for nuviun on global digital health developments, research, and trends. Follow Jenn on Twitter @jnnprater3.