A survey-based study has found 54% of Qatar’s residents are computer users
By Pratap John, Chief Business Reporter

Qatar’s first-ever survey-based ICT study reveals 54% of the country’s residents are computer users.
The study was initiated by ictQATAR, the country’s telecom regulator. The survey findings were published in “Qatar’s ICT Landscape” which was released in Doha yesterday.

Among the resident population (excluding transient labour population), the basic ICT indicators are comparable to European (EU-15) averages, the study points out.

ICT adoption is broadly defined as the integration of computers, Internet, and related technologies in social and economic activities.

The report provides a good understanding of where Qatar stands today compared to developing and developed countries in terms of ICT adoption by all sectors of the society, including residents, government and the business community. It also looks at education, health, and tourism sectors, as well as the ICT job market.

Qatar ranks highest in the Arab world in number of personal computers in schools per 100 students. The average number of PCs available for educational purposes is 8.3 PCs per 100 students. Independent schools have the best ratio at 16.2 PCs per 100 students, significantly higher than the European average of 12.1.

The government has been “aggressive” in its ICT adoption in several areas including ICT training of staff and the ratio of PCs to employees, which stands at 88.2 PCs per 100 employees.

But a significant number of government services are yet to be transformed into e-services to encourage widespread use of e-government in Qatar. The percentage of IT staff vis-à-vis total staff in the government sector is low compared to the world average.

Government hospitals and health centres are well equipped to provide Internet access – 95% of all physicians and 78% of nurses have Internet connection in government hospitals and 95% of physicians and 78% of nurses have Internet access at health centres.