Official sees huge growth for Internet

By Ramesh MathewStaff Reporter

Brahima Sanou speaking at Connect Arab Summit yesterday

A senior ITU official expects the Internet and other communication technologies across the Arab region to proliferate much faster than any other areas of the world in the next few years.Speaking at a session held as part of the Connect Arab Summit 2012 yesterday, International Telecommunications Union’s director of the telecommunication development bureau Brahima Sanou said more than 30% of the region’s population had access to the Internet and the growth across the whole region had been phenomenal in recent years, accounting for more than a 100% growth compared to previous years.  In the GCC states, the Internet proliferation is much larger than the Arab region’s average, he noted. Though the potential of the broadband connectivity is not fully tapped in the region, the large share of its young population below 30 has raised the confidence of the world telecom sector.“Since more than 60% of the region is below the age of 30 and more than 50mn new jobs are set to be created by 2012, the number of broadband network users is likely to record a remarkable growth in coming years,” said Sanou.While calling for the strengthening of the communication infrastructure, the ITU official said the millennium development goals set by the member states would ensure sustainable development in different areas, particularly in the communication sector.As a result, new opportunities are bound to come  in e-business, e-health, e-education, e-commerce and e-banking, he said.