Network Society

 

In today?s world of Sandi Arbia, information technoloogy plays a pivotal role in the Sandiveconomic, social, educational and cultural activities. Advancement of technology has become closely associated with many life aspects usage of information technology (IT). IT is not viewed as a luxury for specialists, but it is playing pivotal role in the Sandi lifestyle. Both public and private establishments could not ignore the rapid developments that take place in IT, which brings advancement including economic advancements to their organizations. Investment in the IT sector through set strategies and objectives is sufficient to bring huge commercial opportunities to the various Sandi markets and huges service advancement to all, individually and organizationally.

Since the 1990s, Sanudi Arabia has actively sought to increase the information and communication technology(ICT) services and infrastructure available throughout the Kingdom. They set a budget of $60 billion for IT expenditures by 2020. They have changed their mobile phone penetration rates from 12 percent in 2001 to162 percent at the end of the third quarter of 2009, They estimate to have over 41 million mobile phone subscribers in the nation. The number of internet users has also increased from five percent of the popoulation in 2001 to 38.5 percent in 2009. In addition, the Sandi Government has prioritized e-government initiatives, alongside research development of ICT and telecommunications technologies, which has resulted in programs such as the Computer Emergency Response Team Sandi Arabia and the development of anti-SPAM regulatory frameworks.

Saudi Arabia scored the 54th place in the Global Index Report issued annually by INSEAD and the Confederation of Indian Industry. The 2009/2010 report covered 15 countries in the Middle East and North Africa. UAE ranked no. 1 regionally and scored the 24th place in the global level. Meanwhile, recent statistics have shown that the volume of opportunities offered by computing in global IT market is to reach $160 billion by 2011. Studies have also indicated that solution services for IT sector may increase the net IT revenue by $800 billion by 2013.

People and Organization Online:

On May 9, 2010, an information technology forum was held under the theme: The Challenges and Opportunities of Information Development in Saudi Arabia. At this forum the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) was organized. The event aims at stimulating dialogue in developing IT industry in the Kingdom. It also includes general guidelines for key shareholders on the future challenges and threats in IT sector in the Kingdom and gives an outlook on IT market in Saudi Arabia as well as the backbones and obstacles of utilization of technology and spending volume on it.

The National Center for e-learning and Distance Learning has launched its virtual classroom ?Jusour? system for distance learning and connecting students with faculty members.

The World Telecommunication Policy Forum (WTPF) is a high-level international event where ITU Members from government, industry and the global regulatory community exchange views on the key policy issues arising from today?s fast changing information and communication technology (ICT) environment. Forum organized to address the problems of Implementation of e-government in the Arab World: Administrative, Financial and Technological Aspects. Organized by ITU, the Forum is open to ICT professionals from all sectors, as well as interested members of the general public. Expressed in the form of a number of ?Opinions? and a final Report, these agreed perspectives are used to guide ongoing global ICT policies, regulatory and standardization efforts worldwide.

Locally Relvant Content:

Asharqia Chamber, the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EPCCI) held a workshop on cybercrimes.

Under the patronage of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), the 9th International Information Technology Exhibition for Saudi Arabia (GITEX Saudi Arabia 2010) was held at the Riyadh International Exhibitions Center. GITEX exhibition is one of the world?s premier IT technology shows. The event is an important one of a kind event in the region of Saudi Arabia which is the largest market for software solutions in the region, with a value of $637 million in 2009, up from $570 million in 2008. The sector is forecasted to grow at 12% over the period of 2008-2013. Computer sales ? including PCs, notebooks and accessoreies.

Saudi Arabia has improved its position in the Global Information Technology Report 2009-2010. In this report, the Kingdom was ranked at the 38th place. In 2008-2009 report, the Kingdom was at 40th position, while it has ranked 48 on 2007-2008 report. The report reveals the Networked Readiness Index (NRI) that shows how prepared countries are in using ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) effectively.

This Symposium, to be organized by the Arab Administrative Development Organization (ARADO), an affiliate of the Arab League, is considered as an important one as it sheds light on how to utilize the Arab information and knowledge resources and invest in them to increase revenues of public and private institutions. The symposium aims at introducing investment in information technology (IT), reviewing the role of investment in IT in boosting economy and identifying standards of investment in IT at the public and private sectors.

This Forum, to be organized by the Cairo-based the Arab Organization for Administrative Development (ARADO), an affiliate of the Arab League is the third in a series of similar events been convened under the same theme and aim at presenting and discussing developments in ICT and its impact on the concepts of theories pertaining to cities planning and designing. The Forum aims at presenting and discussing theories of cities planning and designing, knowing development in the sciences and technologies of communication and information technology and the impact of this on the theories, practices and tools of planning and designing modern cities and discussion of different results of the development of the concept of city particularly problems and obstacles of the implementation of electronic and knowledge cities. The gathering also aims at laying down solutions and alternatives and reaching proposals leading to boosting positive outcomes and overcoming negative ones about the implementation of the concept of electronic, digital and knowledge city.

Information and Communication Technologies in Everyday life:

 This Symposium is to be organized by the Arab Administrative Development Organization (ARADO), an affiliate of the Arab League. The importance of this Symposium comes at a time when e-commerce is expanding and more Internet websites are being created and registered for companies and establishments. There is also an increase in electronic trading dealings, conclusion of online contracts and delays in fulfilling relevant obligations. The latter resulted in disputes that may be settled away from the local and regional judicial bodies. The Symposium aims at achieving a number of objectives. They include; study and analysis of the concept of e-commerce, study and discussion of national legislations of e-commerce, discussion of how to formulate e-commerce contracts, their conditions and terms and shedding light on arising disputes of e-commerce. The Symposium covers a number of themes. They include; contracts of traditional and electronic commerce, Arab legislations that govern legal electronic transactions, the legal framework and international regulations of e-commerce and arbitration of disputes arising from e-r commerce contracts.

Information and Communication Technologies in the Workplace:

This workshop, being organized by the Arab Administrative Development Organization (ARADO), an affiliate of the Arab League, occupies special importance. In today?s world, the shift from traditional job to e-job is a qualitative development that would help employees to do their duties in an efficient, quick and smooth way, which would help in providing quick and efficient services to citizens. This shift represents a challenge for employees, in particular those who face difficulties in changing from the traditional way of doing the job into modern fashions.

The workshop aims to achieve a number of objectives, including; acquainting participants of the necessary measures for training employees to move to e-job, acquaint participants of the methodology of assessment of the process of moving to e-job in the Arab governments? institutions and the economies of this process. The workshop also discusses the impact of moving to e-job on the performance of government employees. It aims at reviewing the impact of moving to e-government on various jobs as well as get acquainted of the different Arab experiences in shifting to e-job.

The workshop covers several themes that would be discussed and reviewed during its three-day deliberations. They include; qualifying government employees to shift to e-job, the impact of moving to e-job on the department, employee and citizens, the economies of e-job and dealing with emergency cases when electronic work system fail. A number of information technology and management experts and academicians are expected to take part in this event.

This Symposium is to be organized by the Arab Administrative Development Organization (ARADO), an affiliate of the Arab League. The importance of this Symposium comes at a time when e-commerce is expanding and more Internet websites are being created and registered for companies and establishments. There is also an increase in electronic trading dealings, conclusion of online contracts and delays in fulfilling relevant obligations. The latter resulted in disputes that may be settled away from the local and regional judicial bodies.

This Forum, to be organized by the Cairo-based the Arab Organization for Administrative Development (ARADO), an affiliate of the Arab League is the third in a series of similar events been convened under the same theme and aim at presenting and discussing developments in ICT and its impact on the concepts of theories pertaining to cities planning and designing.

The Council of Ministers Decision No. (74) dated 5/3/1422H was issued approving the Ordinance of the Saudi Communications Commission. These systems aim at facing the challenges of the coming stage in the field of telecommunications, and creating a competitive environment based on equity and transparency emerging from it provision of high quality universal telecommunications services at affordable prices, activating the role of the private sector and motivating its investments in that field.

Stages

People and Organizations Online

Stage 1 - Internet was first introduced to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 1994 when state academic, medical, and research institutions got access to it.

Stage 2 - Internet was officially made available in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1997 by a ministerial decision and the public access finally debuted in 1999.

Stage 3 - In December 2000 there were ca. 200 000 Internet users in Saudi Arabia. By 2005 the number of Internet users in KSA had grown to 2,54 million, making the growth 1170 % and KSA one of the fastest growing Internet markets. (source: http://www.internetworldstats.com/middle.htm#sa).

Stage 4 - 2006 some major changes were made to the structure of Internet in KSA. These changes are likely to aid the expansion of Internet usage in KSA even more. it is predicted that the number of users will reach 3.8 million in 2007.

Stage 5 - It is estimated that the Internet usage will keep on growing rapidly in the KSA. In addition to the new Internet structure that can cut the prices of Internet access, there are also other factors that can speed up the growth of Internet usage in Saudi Arabia. One reason for the growth is that 60 % of the Saudi population comprises teenagers and young adults who are adapting to new technologies faster than expected.

Locally Relevant Content

Stage 1 - KACST provided the gateway to the International Internet for ISPs as well as all the Saudi universities and governmental research centers. The STC provided the communication infrastructure in the country.

Stage 2 - The Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network formed the Internet backbone in Saudi Arabia. ATM network covers most of the country and was used to connect the ISPs with KACST and with their dialup and ADSL clients.

Stage 3 - In KSA the Internet is filtered. That means that the users can?t access websites that contain material that can be harmful or offensive to an Internet user. When Internet was first introduced to the public in KSA, the filtering took place at the servers of KACST and was supervised by ISU.

Stage 4 - From 2006 forward the gateways to the International Internet are provided by three licensed commercial DSPs: Bayanat, ITC and STC. The ISPs can choose from which DSP they buy their International Internet bandwidth. KACST will keep on providing the gateway to the International Internet for all the Saudi universities and governmental research centers. One of the biggest changes in the structure of Internet in KSA is the change of the filtering system. From 2006 on filtering will take place at the servers of the three DSPs. The DSPs will get the list of filtered addresses from CITC.

Stage 5 - As the usage of Internet grows in all the Arabic countries, the amount of Arabic content on the Internet will grow as well. This in turn will attract more and more Saudis to join the Internet. Several universities and colleges in KSA are now adopting e-learning as a part of their curriculum. It is estimated that the Saudi Arabia?s e-learning market will expand by 33% annually over the next five years and hit US$125 million by 2008.

Information and Communication Technologies in Everyday Life

Stage 1- Saudi Telecommunication Company (STC)

STC used to be the only company in KSA in charge of providing all telecommunication services in the kingdom. It still manages the local Internet and the old communication infrastructure in KSA.

Stage 2 - When Internet was first made available for the public in KSA at the end of 1990?s, it was supervised by King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and the Internet Service Unit (ISU) a department of KACST.

Stage 3 - ISU acted as a Saudi Internet exchange point and worked in raising the public awareness with the Internet. It also formulated the rules and regulations that govern the use of the Internet in the country and took care of the Saudi domain name system. The Internet was provided to the public through many number of commercial ISPs who were licensed by KACST.

Stage 4 - In this article, Data Service Provider means companies or organizations that provide the major gateways to the International internet. In Summer 2006 there were three licensed commercial Data Service Providers in KSA.

Information and Communication Technologies in the Workplace

Stage 4 - Communications and Internet Technology Comission (CITC) will take over the supervision of Saudi Arabian Internet from KACST and ISU in 2006. In addition to that from 2006 forwards three licensed data service providers (DSPs) will provide the commercial gateways to the Internet.

Stage 5 - As more banks and companies will offer more of their services online, more customers are drawn to use these services. It is estimated that in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries the ecommerce will cross altogether the US$1 billion mark by the year 2008, with Saudi Arabia taking the lion?s share of these revenues.