'Arab World: How Much Does Internet Access Matter?'

Jillian C. York, Arab World: How Much Does Internet Access Matter?, 9 Mar 2011 Some useful pointers here.

ICT in ME

globalarabnetwork.com, ICT market: the Middle East has the best growth potential in 2010, 24 Jan 2010 "Research covering the international information and communications technology (ICT) markets shows that the Middle East has the best growth potential in 2010. IDC MEA, the top market intelligence and advisory firm serving the Middle East, Turkey and Africa (MEA) territories, will gather 100 of the region's top ICT decision makers to discuss industry opportunities, trends and best practices at the upcoming IDC Middle East CIO Summit 2010 to be held from January 24 to 25, 2010 at the Madinat Jumeirah Resort in Dubai." PR related

Egypt and the net

Joseph Mayton, Bikya Masr, Egypt: Web development on the ups, 21 Sep 09

"Officials admit that e-commerce and Internet activity is low for a nation of Egypt’s size. According to the ministry of communication and technology, of that 8.3 percent, 53 percent of the users reside in the capital Cairo, and another 32 percent live in the northern Delta region, which has left much of Upper Egypt disconnected."

Nik Aziz on Kelantan's Digital Divide

Bernama, Only 10 Per Cent Of Kelantan Population Are Internet Users, 26 Mar 09, "Only 100,000 of the 1.5 million people in Kelantan are internet users, Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said.

"He said although they formed only 10 per cent of the state population, the gap would become wider if no action was taken to bridge the digital gap.

"The communication gap between the internet and non-internet users would be wider and also between that of those with and without knowledge, he said at the launch of the Wifi Aptus Net and the Tok Guru Blog here today.

"Nik Abdul Aziz said efforts should be made to get more people, like senior citizens, housewives, traders, imams and students at "pondok" (religious) schools, to be computer savvy and learn to surf the internet for information.

""Surfing the internet can help enrich our knowledge," he added."

And here is Nik Aziz's blog blogtokguru.com, with integrated video.

Malaysian Computers

The Star Online, Malaysian computer for only RM500, laptop for RM1,000 "Three months from now, Malaysians will be able to buy the i-Dola laptop and Jean-i personal computer (PC) at basement prices.

"Mimos is now ready to licence the production of the Malaysian computer codenamed Mak Cik, which it took two years to develop. The laptop and PC are named after the Prime Minister and his wife."

BBC News, '$100 laptop' to sell to public, 24 Sept 07 "The first countries to receive the donated laptops will be Cambodia, Afghanistan, Rwanda and Haiti." I've been following this for some time. The One Laptop Per Child website contains full details of the hardware and XO software.