CONNECTING MORE THAN DOTS
dubai — The UAE has been rated first in the Middle East and North Africa and 23rd worldwide in the Global Connectivity Index (GCI) 2018 released by Huawei. Despite slipping 1 place in the ranking, the report noted that the broadband market in the UAE is one of the most advanced both regionally and globally.
Comparing last year’s score, fixed broadband affordability continues to increase by 1 point in the GCI assessment, which is due to the greater market competition brought on by the introduction of the shared fixed network. The rates of smartphone penetration and computer household have hit the maximum score and 4G coverage is showing improvement. Regarding data centre and Internet of Things (IoT), there is an improvement in cloud experience and induced potentiality for IoT, the report said in its country profile.
“Having broadband and data centre outperform its neighbours and most countries in the globe, the UAE should further improve the range of use for cloud services and corresponding user experience. With a good proportion of companies having adopted cloud-based solutions, the UAE should encourage the delivery of cloud services that support the changing needs of their customers, which could drive the public to build savvy towards Internet use and stimulate related demands,” the report added.
According to the index, the UAE is ahead in broadband and data centres as against the global average but lags in Internet of Things, cloud and Big Data. The UAE scored 73 points as against 56 global average in broadband; 50 points in data centres as against 42 points in global average; and 45 points for cloud as against 46 points global average. Similarly, the UAE achieved 40 points as against the 42 global average in Big Data and 28 points in IoT as against 33 in the global average.
The country saw its rating improving in 3pillars — supply, demand and experience — but declining in potential.
Overall, the UAE scored 53 points out of 100 in the 2018 connectivity index.
Globally, the US topped Huawei’s Global Connectivity Index 2018 with 78 points followed by Singapore (75), Sweden (73), Switzerland (71), UK (70), Finland (68), Denmark (68), Netherlands (67), Norway (65) and Japan (65) making up the top 10 list.
High rate of connectivity is ‘the’ most important aspect when we are talking of a not-sodistant future Atik Munshi, senior partner, Crowe Horwath
“High rate of connectivity is ‘the’ most important aspect when we are talking of a not-so-distant future. The UAE rating for connectivity is decent, though it needs to scale new heights to be called a ‘city of the future’,” says Atik Munshi, senior partner, Crowe Horwath.
“No aspect of human living,” according to Munshi, “is now aloof from connectivity; mobile smart phones have penetrated everywhere, yet new aspects like cloud and IoT have not been tapped to its full potential in the country as yet. In my view, the UAE’s improved connectivity ratings will not be sufficient; in fact, the UAE should become a vision leader for the rest of the world by providing innovation a free gateway.”
He noted that the UAE government has impressive plans for 2021. “I think the UAE can take huge strides in innovation. Innovation in connectivity is the future.”
Bader Samir Tayeb, founder and CEO of YaHalla, the first Emirati-owned firm to design smartphones within the country, said IoT is popular now and the UAE is looking to have every device connected to the Internet.
“Artificial Intelligence is big now as the UAE created a ministry especially for this segment. In addition, the UAE government is also planning to implement blockchain. Besides, selfdriving flying taxis are going to be a reality very soon. Considering all these factors, the UAE has pushed a lot for connectivity and emerged first in the connectivity index,” Tayeb added.
In order to improve connectivity, the UAE is ahead of its regional peers in 5G connectivity, Tayeb added.