DOHA: The Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (ictQATAR) has released Digital Inclusion Strategy to approach those at risk of digital exclusion and enable the National ICT Plan to achieve mass ICT and Internet adoption by all segments of Qatari society by 2015.
It also aims to reach out to all sectors of the community through an awareness, access, training and support programme.
“Digital inclusion for Qatar is the process of reaching out to the population lacking technological and IT skills.
The aim is to provide access to basic technologies, and skills to use them,” said the Digital Inclusion Strategy report.
In terms of computer penetration in households, Qatar compares well with the leading ICT-developed countries. However, computer and Internet penetration are lower among individuals compared to mainstream expatriates.
Lack of skills is a major barrier to ICT (information and communication technology) usage among population sub-groups. Complexity of technology and lack of understanding are also barriers for Qatari women and senior citizens.
In terms of mobile use, the figures are positive, with penetration approaching 100 percent.
“As Qatar moves to become a knowledge-based economy, it has become important to ensure that all members of society have the ability to access technologies and gain an understanding of how to use them. ictQATAR works to bridge the digital divide so that everybody can be part of Qatar’s information society,” said the report.
ictQATAR has identified target groups who are yet to understand benefits of the Internet and ICT. They range from non-working Qatari women and women with low ICT skills, school dropouts/students, young people with low ICT skills, people with special needs, Qataris in small communities, elderly Qataris, and low-skilled migrant workers. The Peninsula
