IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

IT spending by governments in the Middle East and Africa during 2011 will increase by 10.7% on last year, predicted research firm IDC on Wednesday.

The company said that 2010 investment stood at $5.35 billion, so based on IDC's expectations, MEA IT spending should near $6 billion this year.

Three in four people would be happier living in a smart city, according to a new report by Mastercard

The report features insights related to human aspirations and technological progress for smart cities in the Middle East.

The report shed light on human aspirations and technological advancements driving the development of smart cities in the Middle East. With projections indicating that two-thirds of the global population will reside in urban areas by 2050, there's a growing imperative to ensure that future cities are secure, sustainable, and inclusive.

The results show in the numbers. According to data recently released by International Data Corporation (IDC), spending on IT among healthcare organizations is soaring in Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, and the UAE. Over the five-year period from 2012 to 2017, spending will jump by just under 10% annually. The purpose of the spending varies by country.

The recently released "Middle East and Africa Government Sector Top 10 Predictions, 2011" report from IDC Government Insights reveals that IT spending by MEA governments will surge 10.7 per cent year on year in 2011 as they look to encourage greater adoption of ICT across their jurisdictions by revamping outmoded regulatory regimes, creating conducive environments for industry growth, and instilling greater confidence and trust among residents.

The forecast includes hardware, software, external IT services and telecommunications.

“Telecom services, which includes fixed and mobile telecom services, will be the largest overall spending category throughout the forecast period within the government sector. It is expected to grow 2.7 per cent in 2013 to reach US$5.4 billion in 2014 – led by growth in mobile network services,” Gartner said.

Additionally, the rising penetration of connected devices in the region is leading more governments to adopt more e-Government initiatives, making the transformation into digital economies with the initiation of smart city technologies.

Governments throughout the Middle East and Africa realise that simply ignoring online social media is no longer a valid option and they are adopting a more progressive approach to building their online social media presence and adopting the necessary competencies to proactively engage with their citizens, industry experts said.

"From improving the access to information and services to engaging in dialogue with citizens, online social media hold great promise in their ability to increase the transparency of government institutions' interaction with the public," Mukesh Chulani, senior research analyst for the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey at IDC Government Insights, said.

The global Middle East & Africa digital transformation market is segmented into digital software such as digital content and application, digital sales and commerce, digital marketing, digital customer experience & service and digital integration platform. Among these segments, digital integration platform segment is expected to be the fastest growing segment in the market by the end of forecast period. The expansion of the digital integration segment is backed by its compact and lightweight design. Moreover, it can be used in areas of adventures and harsh conditions owing to its rugged and waterproof design.

For some countries in the region, their journey of digital transformation was part of their long-term development goals and strategies towards smart cities

Smart cities have garnered a lot of attention in recent years. Pitched as paradigms of what future cities should be, smart cities are intelligent ecosystems that are enabling the efficient, convenient, and sustainable distribution of and access to services for citizens and civil servant employees.

5G offers exciting new revenue prospects but telcos need to go beyond connectivity to achieve good return on investment.

The telecoms industry and 5G play a major role in supporting digital transformation as businesses move towards more collaborative and immersive remote working, said Hatem Bamatraf, chief technology officer, Etisalat International, during the Telecoms World Middle East 2021.

Farah Naz and Martin Angus of AECOM Middle East speak to Gavin Davids about why it is essential that ESG strategies become intertwined with the planning and development of smart cities

The concepts of smart cities and sustainability are often intertwined, as it is impossible to consider one without the other. By their very nature, smart cities involve the implementation of eco-friendly projects that improve the quality of life for residents and communities, while still respecting the environment.

Broadband MEA, the premier event driving sustainable growth of broadband in the Middle East and Africa, is attracting top industry representatives in the region to its first ever Rural Broadband Summit to be held on 25 March 2012. As MEA governments and industry players alike work towards bridging the digital divide to improve rural broadband, the summit will explore the opportunities and innovations required to achieve connectivity in these territories.

Across the region, public (and many private) hospitals and clinics are building up their IT infrastructure to facilitate patient information management and sharing – creating channels and touch points for patient administration and remote care and monitoring.

According to data recently released by the International Data Corporation (IDC), spending on IT among healthcare organizations is soaring in Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, and the UAE. Over the five-year period from 2012 to 2017, spending is projected to jump by ~10% annually.