ICT

A surge in Brunei Darussalam’s mobile data traffic usage at the beginning of 2012 has heightened expectations over the impact that 4G technology will have on the telecommunications sector.

The information and communication technology (ICT) sector is looking to further expand its reach across the region, with the giant Saudi market firmly in its sights -- though there have been suggestions that the congested domestic industry needs to consolidate to better equip it for overseas conquest.

The arrival of a sixth operator in the already competitive Ghanaian mobile telecoms market spells good news for customers keen to take advantage of aggressive pricing policies and product innovation.

In recent weeks, the Ministry of Communications (MoC) has ordered Kuwait’s internet service providers (ISPs) to reduce their pricing by at least 40%. While this move could boost the number of users, some industry participants say that it is the ageing, government-owned, fixed-line communications infrastructure and lack of a clear regulatory framework – and not elevated pricing – that is limiting market expansion.

Encouraging innovation in the industry and investing in its infrastructure, Brunei Darussalam has made information and communications technology (ICT) a pillar of its ambition to become a knowledge-based economy. However, hopes that a nascent software sector will boost the Sultanate’s export economy face strong competition from Asian rivals.

A major software developer’s plans to open a training centre in Dubai look set to strengthen the emirate’s bid to become a regional information technology (IT) centre, although growth in the sector could be hindered by the constraints start-ups face in finding financing.