ICT

With demand for domestic hardware and software recovering and renewed interest in the potential of high-value outsourcing operations, the outlook for Bulgaria’s information and communications technology (ICT) sector appears to be considerably brighter.

The long-stalled privatisation of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) appears one step closer to completion, with global operator Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC) set to take a controlling interest in the Bahamian firm in April, although the move has not been without its critics.

With a move to become one of the first countries to offer non-Latin language scripts in domain names, Qatar is pushing forward with efforts to help accelerate the development of e-services and e-commerce environments throughout the Arabic-speaking world. In February, the Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology (ictQATAR) announced that its website had became the first to use a Qatar-specific domain name in Arabic, with more Arabic domains set to be available for government entities and registered trademark holders starting in March.

Le taux de pénétration de la téléphonie mobile approche rapidement de la barre de 100%, ce qui en fait le segment le plus dynamique du marché marocain d’appels vocaux. En comparaison, le taux de pénétration du fixe a dépéri à moins de 12% en septembre 2010.

Saudi Arabia is looking to further open up its IT sector as part of a broader strategy to develop a knowledge-based society and economy. However, the rapid inroads being made by new technologies may require the state to step up investment in digital infrastructure and hasten its regulatory processes.

Telecommunications providers in the UAE are re-aligning their strategies and upgrading their networks amid greater competition, high mobile saturation and shifting revenue patterns.