Intel CEO Graig Barrett: Interconnect the Arab World
Posted: 28 October 2003
Intel Corporation Chief Executive Officer Craig Barrett called
upon Arab leaders to interconnect their citizens, businesses and
governments to the Internet so the Arab world has the opportunity
to compete and prosper in the expanding global economy.
In a speech before business and government leaders today, Barrett
said the convergence of computing and communications and the worldwide
build-out of the Internet are changing the way business is conducted
and how people use technology at work and in the home.
“In the coming years, the world’s economies will rely
even more on the Internet to conduct commerce, communicate and manage
information and rich media,” Barrett said. “Information
technology will define your future. IT is the critical driver of
economic growth, and IT will be essential to long-term economic
prosperity for the Arab world.”
Despite very low PC ownership and Internet usage at about 2 and
3 per cent respectively, Barrett said that countries in the Arab
world are taking good first steps to capitalize on the tremendous
marketplace opportunities being created by a pervasive Internet.
“Through its e-Government initiative, the United Arab Emirates
has increased the region’s Internet usage by nearly 30 per
cent, while in Jordan the REACH program lays out an action plan
to strengthen the country’s IT sector, create 30,000 new jobs,
and increase foreign investments by $150 million and annual IT exports
by $550 million by 2004,” Barrett said, describing these efforts
as examples of leadership for the entire Arab World to follow.
“The Arab World can accelerate its investments in computing
and communication infrastructure, research and development programs,
and education,” Barrett said. “Reducing trade barriers,
deregulating the telecommunications market and promoting regional
stability will
help attract foreign investment. With this strategy, the Arab world
will be well positioned to diversify, grow and connect with the
global economy.”
To accelerate the deployment of a robust technology infrastructure
and realize price-to-performance benefits, Barrett called upon Arab
nations to support standards, open architectures and cross-platform
software.
He also pointed to “Wi-Fi” as a new technology that
can help the Arab world gain fast ground in its pursuit of economic
diversity and growth.
Wi-Fi —short for 802.11 wireless fidelity networks —
allows people to tap into a wireless Internet connection with their
notebook PCs to communicate and be productive while in such places
as airports, hotels, restaurants and cafes.
Unlike hard-wired infrastructure, wireless networks can be installed
quickly and at lower cost.
Wi-Fi enablement is underway in a number of locations, including
the airports in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Lebanon.
Barrett urged Arab nations to continue to deregulate spectrum and
support Wi-Fi hotspot deployment in an effort to promote the growth
of wireless computing.
Intel, the world's largest chipmaker, is also a leading manufacturer
of computer, networking and communications products.
For more information see www.intel.com.
Posted by Richard Price,
Editor Pipeline Magazine
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