Saudi Arabia ranks 31st in terms of development and usage of information and communication technology (ICT), and went up three points compared to last year, according to a global report by World Economic Forum (WEF) 2013.
“GCC states have upgraded their performance in the field of information technology which became one of their key national industries,” WEF pointed out in its report.
Saudi Arabia obtained 29th position globally in political and regulatory environment and 25th in business and innovation, according to the forum’s report data.
The Kingdom was positioned 22nd in the creation of an environment in which citizens can increase their participation to support government, 25th in terms of friendly business environment and placed at 102nd for starting a new business.
The communication and information technology is expected to grow by more than 10 percent in the Kingdom by the end of 2013.
Out of 144 economies, Kingdom positioned 37th in terms of skills development by improving the quality of the educational systems, especially for math and science and placed at 70th in terms of boosting educational enrollment, especially at tertiary level.
The forum’s report also showed that digitization has a measurable effect on economic growth and job creation. A comprehensive digital boost could help lift over half a billion people out of poverty over the next ten years.
“The broadband network, 3G and the efficient interpretation of vast data could revitalize economic growth,” according to the report.
The communications and information technology market in the Kingdom is vast; 15 million residents in the Kingdom were Internet users by the end of last year.
The number of subscribers to mobile communication services touched 53 million and fixed telephone lines amounted to 4.8 million lines by the end of 2012.
The Saudi government is undertaking several initiatives to upgrade infrastructure, establish new industries, develop ICTs and open training centers to give a new direction to ICT development.
KSA ranks 31st in ICT
