By Pratap JohnQatar’s five-year ICT plan aims doubling the sector’s contribution to the national GDP to about QR11bn and workforce to 40,000 by 2015. The ambitious plan targets ubiquitous high-speed broadband access for about 95% of Qatar’s households and businesses within the next four years.The five-year plan has been prepared by ictQATAR with a vision to create a knowledge-based economy that drives sustainable development and societal benefits for all.By 2015, Qatar will be benefiting from ICT solutions in key aspects of its economy. It will also be using information, communication and technology to become further integrated into the global economy, ictQATAR said in its latest newsletter.Another major goal of Qatar’s five-year ICT plan is to achieve mass ICT and Internet adoption by all segments of society (90%). It also targets to achieve wide accessibility and effectiveness of about key government online services.“With increasing large-scale investment projects, rising government expenditure, and a population that is expected to grow steadily at an average of about 2.1% a year over the next five years, integrating ICT into the daily lives of everyone, and into Qatar’s economy, becomes even more crucial,” ictQATAR said. And to compete on the global stage for investment, talent, jobs, and economic influence, Qatar must continue to advance the growth of the ICT sector as a major pillar of its economy and society, the Supreme Council for Information, Communication & Technology said.To meet those goals, a comprehensive, strategic framework has been developed by ictQATAR. It has five ‘strategic thrust’ areas- improving connectivity, boosting capacity, fostering economic development, enhancing public development, enhancing public service delivery and advancing societal benefits.These five thrusts will enable Qatar to become a leading knowledge-based economy, and they are aligned with the government’s broader national goals as articulated in Qatar’s National Vision 2030, and specific programs with Qatar’s National Development Strategy 2011-2016.“Qatar’s telecommunications infrastructure has grown significantly, and current public and private investments to expand capacity are promising. Yet a shift to a knowledge-based economy requires a robust and ubiquitous infrastructure that enables high-speed broadband connectivity for all households and businesses. “Currently, broadband connectivity is not at the speeds required to meet the country’s needs. Though Qatar is leapfrogging outdated technologies, keeping pace with demand is difficult, especially as new technologies and forms of media demand greater bandwidth and more sophisticated equipment,” ictQATAR said.Qatar has already laid a strong foundation for future progress, the report said. The country’s mobile penetration stands at 167%, one of the highest in the world.Globally, the average is 76%, and among developed countries it is 116%.In 2010, 89% of households had a computer and 85% of individuals had one.Broadband usage has jumped from 41% of households in 2008 to 70% in 2010.Qatar ranks in the top quartile of all countries surveyed in the latest World Economic Forum’s Networked Readiness Index.The ICT market in Qatar keeps growing and is projected to expand at a double digit compound annual growth rate.