Iraq ICT Situation and its effect on Iraq

Rebuilding: Study, Analysis, and Suggestion

Saad A.R. MAKKI+ and Yaakob K. HANNA++

+
Al-Mustansiriah University, College of Education, Computer Sc. Department
++
Al-Mustansiriah University, Engineering College, Computer Eng. Department

Abstract
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) provides developing nations
with an unprecedented opportunity to meet vital development goals, such as
poverty reduction, basic healthcare, and education, far more effectively than before.
In this paper, a general survey to ICT statistics in Iraq will be studied and an
analysis and a comparison between ICT statistics in Iraq, Arabian and Developing
countries will be performed. In addition, a statistical result from a USA and
European Countries will be performed for comparison purposes. Suggestions will
be presented to reach the required level of ICT in Iraq to enable the process of Iraqi
rebuilding. These suggestions include the requirements from educational,
governmental, and private sector activities.

Key Words: ICT, ICT in education, ICT in Iraq, ICT and ITU.

1. Introduction successful. In 2006 the United Nations

launched an initiative called the Global
Information and Communications Alliance for Information and
Technology 0r Technologies (ICTs) Communication Technologies and
have been identified by many Development [1].
international development institutions
as a crucial element in developing the The new information technologies are
worlds' poorest countries, by the driving force behind the explosion
integrating them into the global of information and the fragmentation of
economy and by making global knowledge that we witness today. All
markets more accessible. The World available information doubles every
Bank has collaborated with the three years and yet, we are able to use
International Finance Corporation to less than ten percent of the available
promote access to ICTs, an initiative information.
which it describes as one of its most
The greatest challenge facing us today According to the European
is how to organize information into Commission, the importance of ICTs
structured knowledge. We must rise lies less in the technology itself than in
above the obsession with the quantity its ability to create greater access to
of information and the speed of information and communication in
transmission, and focus on the fact that underserved populations. Many
the key issue for us is our ability to countries around the world have
organize the information once it has established organizations for the
been amassed, to assimilate it, to find promotion of ICTs, because it is feared
meaning in it and assure its survival.[2] that unless less technologically
ICT covers any product that will store, advanced areas have a chance to catch
retrieve, manipulate, transmit or up, the increasing technological
receive information electronically in a advances in developed nations will
digital form. Importantly, it is also only serve to exacerbate the already-
concerned with the way these different existing economic gap between
uses can work with each other. Some technological "have" and "have not"
products for example, are personal areas. Internationally, the United
computers, digital television, email, Nations actively promotes ICTs for
and robots. Development (ICT4D) as a means of
bridging the digital divide. [4]
In business, ICT is often categorized
into two broad types of product: - ICTs allow users to participate in a
1. The traditional computer-based rapidly changing world in which work
technologies (things can be typically and other activities are increasingly
do on a personal computer or using transformed by access to varied and
computers at home or at work); and developing technologies.[2]
2. The more recent and fast-growing
2. Some ICT Impacts
range of digital communication
technologies (which allow people 2.1 Economic Impact
and organizations to communicate In the recent decades widespread
and share information digitally) [2,3]. incorporation of ICTs into many tiers
ICT is an umbrella term that includes of business, political processes and
any communication device or structuring of the global economy has
application, encompassing: radio, occurred. ICTs have increased
television, cellular phones, computer international interconnectedness and
and network hardware and software, sped up the process of globalization.
satellite systems and so on, as well as They have been ICTs, in conjunction
the various services and applications with globalization and the information
associated with them, such as revolution, have reshaped the
videoconferencing and distance workforce. By increasing the speed of
learning. ICTs are often spoken of in a international communication, ICTs
particular context, such as ICTs in have enabled corporations to outsource
education, health care, or libraries. jobs, both in the manufacturing as well
as white collar sectors. While this
lowers production costs and, as a result,
the cost of goods, it has also had to be delivered face-to-face are now
fundamental and often detrimental being sent through the cold impersonal
impacts on labor conditions. means of email. This has effectively
reduced socialization within the office,
Despite the international spread of thus contributing to the weakening of
ICTs, the economic impacts have been bonds within the workplace.
geographically uneven. They have
exacerbated pre-existing disparities Despite these imbalances in power
between developed countries, which relations, many social justice
can afford to produce and consume the movements believe ICTs can be used to
latest technologies, and developing promote equality and empower
countries, which cannot. This gap is marginalized groups. These groups
known as the digital divide.[2] advocate ICTs as a means of providing
accessible and affordable information
2.2 Social Impact and as a platform for voices that might
otherwise go unheard. [2]
ICTs have impacted societies on many
levels. They have extended the reach of 3. Core Lists of ICT
public administration, leading to a Indicators
centralization of regional management The core list of ICT1 indicators
into urban centers. presented was the outcome of an
intensive consultation process by the
They have led to new forms of
Partnership on Measuring ICT for
employment in innovation and
Development with national statistics
production of ICTs and a demand for
offices (NSOs). This included a
highly-skilled specialists. However,
stocktaking exercise through which
ICTs have also enabled professionals in
metadata on the status of official
certain industries to be replaced by
information society statistics were
unskilled workers, or even made
obtained from NSOs worldwide, as
entirely redundant. Proponents of ICTs
well as a series of regional events on
portray this as a ‗re-skilling‘ of the
core ICT indicators.[5]
workforce, while to detractors it is a
‗de-skilling‘ process.
3.1 Core Indicators on ICT
ICTs facilitate the ease of Infrastructure and Access
communication, which has many Basic core examples (A1 to A12)
profound effects. In the business world, A1 Fixed telephone lines per 100
deals can be made through emails and inhabitants
video conferencing, and mobile phone A2 Mobile cellular subscribers per 100
technology has made it possible for inhabitants
people to check and send messages on A3 Computers per 100 inhabitants
the go, allowing us to be connected. A4 Internet subscribers per 100
Although this has greatly facilitated the inhabitants
business world in general, many A10 Percentage of localities with
negative implications to be considered public Internet access centers (PIACs)
as well. Simple messages which used by number of inhabitants (rural/urban)
 B2 Proportion of employees using
Extended core computers
A11 Radio sets per 100 inhabitants B8 Proportion of businesses placing
A12 Television sets per 100 inhabitants orders over the Internet
In addition there is a list of Extended
3.2 Core Indicators on core (See [5] for details).
Access to, and Use of, ICT by
Households and Individuals 3.4 Core Indicators on the
Basic core examples (HH1 to HH10) ICT Sector and Trade in ICT
HH1 Proportion of households with a Goods
radio
HH2 Proportion of households with a Basic core
TV ICT1 Proportion of total business
HH10 Internet activities undertaken by sector workforce involved in the ICT
individuals in the last 12 months sector
getting information: (a) about goods or ICT2 Value added in the ICT sector (as
services; (b) related to health or health a percentage of total business sector
services; (c) from government value added)
organizations / public authorities via ICT3 ICT goods imports as a
websites or email; and (d) other percentage of total imports
information or general Web browsing ICT4 ICT goods exports as a
In addition there is a list of Extended percentage of total exports
core (See [5] for details). Table (1) shows some statistical
indicators to compute the ICT
3.3 Core Indicators on Use Development Indicator IDI for some
of ICT by Businesses world countries including some Arabic
Basic core examples (B1 to B8) and Developing countries.
B1 Proportion of businesses using Unfortunately Iraq not included in
computers these international statistics.

Table (1) Statistical tables of indicators used to compute the IDI [6]
Fixed Mobile International Proportion Proportion
cellular of of
Telephone lines Internet B W
subscriptions
per 100 inhab Households Households
per Internet
per 100 inhab with with Interne
user(bit/s)
computer
Country 2002 2007 2002 2002 2007 2002 2002 2007
2007 2007
Bahrain 25.2 25.9 55.9 148.3 1‘588 7‘660 35.0 50.7 19.0 34.1
Egypt 11.1 14.9 6.4 3 9.83 39 1‘023 3.0 16.1 1.4 9.1
Jordan 12.8 9.9 23.2 80.5 293 831 16.4 25.1 5.0 10.5
Syria 11.9 17.3 2.2 31.3 44 304 20.0 35.0 20.0 30.0
Kuwait 19.8 18.6 50.3 97.3 308 2‘577 29.0 34.1 24.0 29.1
 China 16.6 27.5 16.0 41.2 159 1‘735 10.2 39.1 5.0 16.4
UAE 29.1 31.6 64.6 176.5 1‘067 5‘380 33.0 43.3 30.0 40.4
UK 58.8 55.4 83.3 118.5 9‘662 55‘281 57.9 75.0 50.0 67.0
USA 65.3 53.4 48.9 83.5 2‘208 15‘341 59.0 70.2 52.0 61.7
Sweden 62.5 60.4 89.0 113.7 14‘96 62‘48 75.0 83.0 66.0 79.0

1. ICT IN EDUCATION specified ICT curriculum successfully

[7].
ICT has become, within a very short
time, one of the basic building blocks The main purpose of ICT in Education
of modern society. Many countries now means is implementing of ICT
regard understanding ICT and Equipments and Tools in Teaching-
mastering the basic skills and concepts Learning process as a media and
of ICT as part of the core of education, methodology. The purpose of ICT in
alongside reading, writing and education is generally to familiarize
numeracy. students with the use and workings of
computers, and related social and
One of UNESCO‘s overriding aims is ethical issues.
to ensure that all countries, both
developed and developing, have access ICT has also enabled learning through
to the best educational facilities multiple intelligence as ICT has
necessary to prepare young people to introduced learning through simulation
play full roles in modern society and to games; this enables active learning
contribute to a knowledge nation. through all senses
Maintaining a capacity to advise
national governments on the use of ICT in education can be broadly
technology in schools and, in categorized in the following ways as
particular, on the optimal balance,
given local circumstances, between -ICT as a subject (i.e., computer
ICT and older educational technologies studies)
and assisting countries in developing
educational software and materials that -ICT as a tool to support traditional
reflect their own national and regional subjects (i.e., computer-based
cultures are key components of the learning, presentation, research)
Organization‘s strategy to achieve the
Education for All goals. -ICT as an administrative tool (i.e.,
education management information
systems/EMIS).
The goal has two key purposes. The
first is to specify a curriculum in ICT As an example In Kenya, ICT is not
for secondary schools that is in line taught as a subject in primary school. It
with current international trends. The is taught as an added advantage to
second purpose is to outline a program some schools. In high school, the ICT
of professional development for is an optional subject.
teachers necessary to implement the
In the United Kingdom, Information populations, groups traditionally
and Communication Technology (ICT) excluded from education due to
is a subject in education, and a part of cultural or social reasons such as ethnic
the National Curriculum. All students minorities, girls and women, persons
must study Information and with disabilities, and the elderly, as
Communication Technology to GCSE well as all others who for reasons of
level. cost or because of time constraints are
Within Scotland and the North East of unable to enroll on campus [7].
England a pilot enterprise in education
initiative aims to use ICT as a vehicle
6. Challenges for the
to encourage creative thinking within
Uptake of ICT In Arab States
the youth demographic. Tapping into
the 'unconstrained' minds of the Table (2) shows some statistical ICT
region's young people, the program indicators for some Arab countries
simulates the process of taking a new included Iraq for years up to 2008(That
innovative ICT idea through the what is available in 2010 publications)
commercialization process. The [9,10].
competition is sponsored by Microsoft
and BT and hopes to expand its reach 6.1 Obstacles Relating to
throughout the UK in 2009/10.[8] the Environment
For developing countries ICTs have the Most challenges in ICT adoption and
potential for increasing access to and usage lie in the political and regulatory
improving the relevance and quality of environment. With uneven records in
education. It thus represents a legal and regulatory issues, weak ICT
potentially equalizing strategy for strategies, chronic R&D shortages,
developing countries. excessive reliance on foreign
ICTs are a potentially powerful tool for technology, and Ongoing weaknesses
extending educational opportunities, in ICT implementation, Arab states are
both formal and non-formal, to frequently lagging in their readiness for
previously underserved the networked future.
constituencies—scattered and rural
Table (2 ) Statistical tables of indicators used to compute the IDI
Main(Fixed) Mobile International Proportion Proportion
telephone cellular Internet B W of of
lines subscriptions (bit/s) per Households Households
per 100 per 100 Internet user with with
inhab. inhab. computer Interne
Country 2007 2008 2007 2008 2007 2008 2007 2007 2008
2008
Bahrain 26.8 28.4 146.9 185.8 7'660 11'020 87.0 87.0 46.5 48.0
Egypt 14.1 14.6 37.6 50.6 1'262 1'995 10.5 13.1 9.5 12.9
Jordan 9.4 8.5 80.3 86.6 788 2'893 25.1 39.3 10.4 13.2
 Syria 16.8 17.1 30.4 33.2 304 589 35.0 38.5 30.0 31.2
Kuwait 18.6 18.5 97.3 99.6 2'577 3'390 34.1 35.2 29.1 29.7
China 27.5 25.5 41.2 47.9 1'735 2'149 29.0 31.8 16.4 18.3
UAE 31.7 33.6 177.2 208.6 8'718 13'333 58.5 74.0 48.7 66.4
UK 55.5 54.2 121.2 126.3 55'259 77'179 75.0 78.0 66.7 71.1
USA 51.3 49.6 85.2 86.8 15'341 21'403 70.2 72.5 61.7 62.5
Sweden 60.1 57.8 111.1 118.3 62'174 109'928 83.0 87.1 78.5 84.4

The Challenges for the Uptake of ICT In Arab States as;

1. High software piracy rates 1. Create a Common Arab ICT

jeopardize confidence with one of Strategy Aligned With National
the highest software piracy rates in Ambitions
the world. 2. Proceed Towards Technological
2. Regulatory Framework Ignores the Sovereignty
Arab Citizen 3. Increase the Competitiveness of the
3. No common plan: foregoing ICT Telecommunications Industry
efficiency opportunities 4. Reduce the Digital Divide
4. Insufficient Funding for ICT 5. Stimulate Arabic Content
Research and Development In the developing world, mobile phones
5. ―Digital Poverty:‖ mediocre have revolutionized telecommunication
bandwidth and connectivity and have reached an estimated average
6. Poor Interconnectivity of Arab IP 49.5 per cent penetration rate at the end
Systems. of 2008 – from close to zero only ten
years ago. This is not only faster than
6.2 Obstacles Relating to any other technology in the past, but
Individual Capabilities and the mobile phone is also the single
Access to Technology most widespread ICT today. The
Several of the obstacles faced by number of Internet users, on the other
individual countries are deeply hand, has grown at a much slower rate,
engrained. Such obstacles include in particular in the developing world,
societal rigidity, weaknesses in where at the end of 2007 only 13 out of
education, unfair income distribution, 100 inhabitants used the Internet. Fixed
and uneven access to technology. Internet access in developing countries
is still limited, and, where available,
often slow and/or expensive. High-
1- An Increasing Arab ―brain drain‖
speed (broadband) connections are rare
2- Digital Divide Remains
and mobile broadband, while
3- Obstacles in Business and
increasing steeply in high-income
Governmental Sectors
countries, is still insignificant in most
4- Weak Local ICT Capabilities
developing countries. In light of such
5- Marginal Local Language Content
developments, the question remains as
6.3 Prescriptions to whether the global digital divide is
widening or narrowing, what the instead of 2009 as was decided earlier.
contributing factors are, and what [11].
progress has been made by individual
7.1 Iraqi Infrastructure
countries to close the digital divide.[9]
By The Ministry of Communications is
7. I CT in IRAQ heading towards renewing its outdated
Despite Iraq's turmoil, successive fixed phone networks and updating its
governments have been able to communication systems infrastructure
improve the telecom sector and the with the latest technologies. As evident
information society, as well as involve in the following projects:
the private sector through the creation  There is the seven rings optical
of the regulatory environment which is network which connects all Iraqi
represented by the Communications governorates via an optical system
and Media Commission, which resulted (DWDM) with a capacity of STM-
in a boom in the mobile services 64. There are also other projects like
(GSM). Work is also underway to the Baghdad eight rings optical
restructure the sector and to plan its network (DWDM) with a capacity
policies by approving a package of of STM-64, the optical links STM-1
legislation and governmental project, and other projects that link
regulations. the Iraqi governorates together and
In 2009, the Ministry of with neighboring countries and with
Communications, almost completed the rest of the world;
several strategic projects, through  There is the national microwave
which modern technologies for the system with seven tracks, with
NGN systems, optical, microwave, and capacities of 7STM-1+ 1, and
wireless communication services will 5STM1+1;
be introduced. Added to that is the step  There is a new exchange system
taken to establish more international (NGN) with 720,000 numbers
space stations, more Internet services, distributed over 26 exchanges of
and more infrastructure projects for different capacities, work is also
electronic applications, notably the e- carried out to expand the IP
government project. Backbone, and update the aging
There are also measures taken to ground network in-order to operate
approve the five-year strategy for the all modern exchanges, as well as
development of the sector which has establishing 3-management domains
been laid down in collaboration with which are divided into three zones
ESCWA (Economic and Social northern, central and southern, work
Commission for Western Asia). is also carried out
Currently, consecutive meetings are  to complete the optical system
being held to study the strategy, yet its DWDM access networks to
implementation has not been approved. overcome the fiber to cabinet
The Ministry of Communications will problems;
be the body responsible for its  There are also the space
implementation starting from 2010 communications, where there are
three satellite stations operating in
 service with a total expandable revenue share ranging between (10-33
capacity of 74E1S. There is also a per cent) of the gross revenue. This
plan to create more space stations, investment encouraged competition in
one of which is Al-Kadhimiya the telecommunications market in Iraq,
station to the north of Baghdad which resulted in better service at a
which is under construction with an lower cost. [11]
expandable capacity of 24E1S;
7.3 ICT Connectivity
 There is also the IP project for the e-
government and to link ministries Based on a survey carried out by "The
and state institutions; Iraqi Mobile Bang", mobile phone
 Seeking to establish a management users did not face difficulties and they
center to control all communication were from both sexes and from all
projects in Iraq, and the electronic social classes. They were also able to
archiving project together with the call rural areas which suffer from
establishing of the LAN networks limited fixed telecommunications
for the center of the Ministry; networks, the public mobile telephone
 The reliance of the Internet service covered nearly all of Iraq, and
company on the above mentioned the rate of mobile phones reached 1.56
infrastructure to implement its plan mobile phone per Iraqi family. The rate
using various technologies as a of the Internet use by Iraqis amounted
means of network access, including to 3 per cent, where 39 per cent of
DSL, WiMAX, and in some whom use it at home, 34 per cent in
assemblies the Wi-Fi technology. internet cafés, and 26 per cent in
[11] educational institutions, work and other
7.2 Initiatives and Projects places [11].
For ICT Infrastructure and 7.4 Internet Infrastructure
Development of New The Ministry of Communications
Service signed a partnership contract with a
In 2008, the sum of government Lebanese firm to supply the devices
allocations for investment projects of necessary for the Internet service using
the Ministry of Communications (Dial-up, VoIP, WiFi, DSL)
reached 378 billion Iraqi dinars technologies. The contract continued
according to preliminary estimates for until 31/12/2007. The Ministry is
this budget. In 2009, these allocations planning to provide Internet service
exceeded 250 billion dinars. using fiber optic cables network. It is
Investments in communications also planning to sign contracts for the
networks reached big sums, whereby supply of a band between (50-100) MB
approximately 3.75 billion dollars / s via satellite, as well as to carry out
worth of mobile phone licenses were the management, maintenance and
invested in. That was in addition to the expansion of the broadband in Baghdad
revenue share of these companies, in-order to provide interconnection to
which ranges between (15-18 per cent) all ministries and some institutions and
of the gross revenue, and universities via the micro technology
approximately 80 million dollars worth (PTP) and ( PMP). This would serve as
of fixed wireless phone licenses and a
the infrastructure for the e-government international certificate recognized by
project. Added to that is the the (Cisco) company.
expansion of the project during 2008 to Iraqi universities have more than (50)
cover all the city of Baghdad, using the departments in the disciplines of
WiMAX technology, and targeting the computer engineering, computer
year 2012 to cover with this technology sciences, and IT. The number of
all of Iraq in-order to serve all students in the preparatory studies for
government institutions. these disciplines amounted to about
In 2009, the building of the 7,000 students. The number of
international access portals of the graduates in these specialties amounted
Internet in Iraq was completed and its to 8,089 graduates and their ratio to the
expansion to include all governorates total number of graduates is about 10.8
will be finished by 2011. This would per cent (according to the reports of the
provide the possibility to integrate with Central organization for Statistics and
a very broadband of up to (10GB / s). IT). The universities benefit from
At the national level, the ESCWA project on Iraqi academic
Communications and Media networks. Refer to Box 2 for more
Commission granted licenses to information. To give a general idea
provide fixed service WiMAX about the number of employees
(802.16d) under the fixed wireless working in the ICT disciplines, the
phone licenses in the band of 3.5 GHz General Company for
whereby it granted every national Telecommunications and Post is given
company a band of 4 * 3.5 MHz and as an example, whereby in 2008 the
every local company a band of 3 * number of its engineering staff
3.5MHz in order to provide this amounted to about 1,150 engineers
service. The Commission looks from both sexes, and the number of its
forward to granting other mobile technicians amounted to 7,100 in
licenses for this service (802.16e) one addition to the various supporting staff
of which is the license which will be from other disciplines [11].
allocated to meet the requirements of
8. Recommendations
government institutions.[11]
The recommendations will be divided
7.5 ICT in Education and to three parts due to the deep gap in
Training ICT requirements and infrastructure,
these parts are:
The Iraqi Commission for Computer
and Informatics prepared a number of - Recommendations due to would
projects to improve the ICT status in and international situations needs.
Iraq. It also established in universities - Recommendations due to Arab
about 110 computer centers and 37 state situation and needs.
centers for the Internet. The - Recommendations for Iraqi
Commission opened an academy for Educational process.
networks to train employees from both
the public and private sectors, after 8.1 Recommendations due
which the participant is granted an to would and international
situations needs
The World Summit on the Information taking into account national
Society (WSIS) held in Geneva (2003) circumstances
and Tunis (2005) brought together 8. To ensure that all of the world‘s
governments, civil society and the population has access to television
business sector to discuss a broad range and radio services
of subjects related to ICT for
development. In the end, governments 9. To encourage the development of
agreed on a set of commitments and content and put in place technical
actions to foster the establishment of an conditions in order to facilitate the
inclusive information society. In presence and use of all world
particular, ten targets were identified in languages on the Internet
the Geneva Plan of Action, along with 10. To ensure that more than half the
numerous recommendations based on world‘s inhabitants have access to
different action lines (Action Lines C1 ICTs within their reach [12].
– C11). The targets, to be achieved by
2015, as they are mentioned in the 8.2 Recommendations due
ninth edition of the World to Arab state situation and
Telecommunication/ICT Development needs
Report is being published at the half- The Capacity-building Workshop on
way point between the World Summit Information Society Measurements,
on the Information Society (WSIS) in Household and Business Surveys was
2005 and the target date for the held in Cairo from 20 to 21 June 2007
Millennium Development Goals under the patronage of the Ministry of
(MDGs) in 2015 are: Communications and Information
1. To connect villages with ICTs and Technology (MCIT) in Egypt, the
establish community access points Information Technology Industry
Development Agency (ITIDA) and the
2. To connect universities, colleges, League of Arab States (LAS). It was
secondary schools and primary organized by the
schools with ICTs
Economic and Social Commission for
3. To connect scientific and research Western Asia (ESCWA), the United
centers with ICTs Nations Conference on Trade and
4. To connect public libraries, cultural Development (UNCTAD), the Arab
centers, museums, post offices and Regional Office of the International
archives with ICTs Telecommunication Union (ITU-ARO)
and the Organization for Economic Co-
5. To connect health centers and
operation and Development (OECD).
hospitals with ICTs
They recommend the following main
6. To connect all local and central points:
government departments and
1. Provide practical training to
establish websites and e-mail
National Statistical Offices (NSOs)
addresses
and statistics units in ICT
7. To adapt all primary and secondary establishments at the national level
school curricula to meet the in a number of Arab countries.
challenges of the information society, International organizations and
 Arab countries advanced in ICT set-up, administration and efficient
indicators collection can help other use;
countries, particularly in designing (i) Create a database for existing
questionnaires, sampling, collecting, expertise in ICT indicators in the Arab
validating and analyzing data; region to facilitate the exchange of
2. 2-Follow international definitions, knowledge and accelerate the
measurements, methodologies and implementation of work;
classifications, such as the (j) Call upon international donors to
International Standard Industrial help Arab countries finance their own
Classification of all Economic initiatives on collecting and analyzing
Activities (ISIC), when collecting IT indicators [13].
information technology (IT) data in
the whole Arab region; 8.3 Recommendations for
3. Re-enforce cooperation between the Iraqi Education process
ministries of ICT and the NSOs in
Arab countries with respect to 1. Completing building the
measuring, collecting and analyzing infrastructure of the communication
ICT indicators; backbones and connect Iraq with the
4. Stratify and represent the world through high band width
community through the existing (Fiber optics and see cables).
statistical methodologies available 2. Strengthen the connection with the
in statistical bodies; International and UN organizations
5. Raise the awareness of and follow up their
policymakers with regard to the recommendations including the
need to emphasize the collection standardization.
and analysis of ICT indicators in IT- 3. Activating the NSOs in Ministry of
related policies and strategies; planning.
6. Develop ICT gender-related 4. Connecting the Universities,
indicators for the Arab region while research centers, colleges,
taking into consideration women secondary, and primary schools
equality and the existing differences with the ICT.
between women in rural and urban 5. Put the digitizing polices to the
areas; primary and secondary schools and
7. Emphasize the need for NSOs and equips them with the computers and
ICT statistical units to participate in networks.
follow-up workshops in order to 6. The digitizing revolution should be
ensure continuity and effectiveness; started from universities by
8. Unify the efforts related to the planning clear polices for digitizing
development of statistical systems and networking the universities to
for the collection and management cover whole Iraq.
of indicators, make the ESCWA 7. Unify and integrating the efforts of
Statistical Information System MHESR and MoE.
(ESIS) available to organizations in 8. Training the ICT groups in MHESR
member countries for their in-house and MoE
usage in managing indicators and
provide the necessary training for
 ‫وضع تكنولوجيا الوعلوهاث واالتصاالث ‪ ICT‬العراقيت وتأثيرها في‬
‫إعادة بناء العراق‪ :‬دراست وتحليل وهقترحاث‬
‫‪++‬‬
‫سعد أ‪.‬ر‪ .‬هكي‪ +‬و يعقوب ك‪ .‬حنا‬
‫‪ +‬جاهعت الوستنصريت‘ كليت التعلين‪ ،‬قسن علوم الحاسباث‬
‫‪ ++‬جاهعت الوستنصريت‘ كليت التعلين‪ ،‬قسن هندست الحاسباث‬

‫الخالصة‬
‫ِ‬
‫تخفيض‬ ‫مثيل لموصول إلى أهداف النمو الحيوية‪ ،‬مثل‬ ‫ِ‬
‫بفرصة لم يسبق لها ِ‬ ‫يزود الـ ‪ ICT‬الدول النامية‬
‫الفاقة والرعاية الصحية األساسية والتعميم وبشكل فعال أكثر بكثير ِمن ذي قبل‪ .‬يقدم البحث دراسة لممسح‬
‫العام إلحصاءات الـ‪ ICT‬في العراق ويعرض هذا البحث أيضا تحميل و مقارنة بين إحصائيات الـ ‪ICT‬‬
‫في العراق والدول العربية ودول نامية‪ .‬باإلضافة إلى ذلك فأن نتائج إحصائية من الواليات المتحدة‬
‫األمريكية وبمدان أوروبية متطورة سينجز ألغر ِ‬
‫اض المقارنة‪ .‬وكذلك يقدم هذا البحث اقتراحات لغرض‬
‫الوصول إلى المستوى المطموب لمـ ‪ ICT‬في الع ارق لمتمكين في عممية إعادة بناء العراق‪ .‬تتضمن‬
‫القطاع الخاص‪.‬‬
‫ِ‬ ‫المقترحات ما مطموب من القطاع التعميمي وقطاع الدولة و‬

‫‪References‬‬
‫‪1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_and_communication_technol‬‬
‫‪ogies‬‬
‫& ‪2. Succeeding in the 21st Century, INFORMATION‬‬
‫‪COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY Assessing Literacy for Today‬‬
‫‪and Tomorrow Listening. Learning, Educational Testing Service‬‬
‫] ‪M2052 12/03‬‬
‫‪3. http://www.maximise-ict.co.uk/ICT-02.htm‬‬
‫‪4. http://searchcio-‬‬
‫‪midmarket.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid183_gci928405,00.htm‬‬
‫‪5. Core ICT Indicators‬‬ ‫‪2010, 2010 ITU International‬‬
‫‪Telecommunication Union Place des Nations CH-1211 Geneva‬‬
‫] ‪Switzerland‬‬
‫– ‪6. Corrigendum to: MEASURING THE INFORMATION SOCIETY‬‬
‫‪7. THE ICT DEVELOPMENT INDEX,‬‬ ‫‪Telecommunication‬‬
‫]‪Development Bureau (ITU-D), Geneva2009 EDITION‬‬
8. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY IN
EDUCATION, A CURRICULUM FOR SCHOOLS AND
PROGRAMME OF TEACHER DEVELOPMENT, UNESCO 2002]
9. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICT_(education)
10. ICT Challenges for the Arab World, Soumitra Dutta, INSEAD
Mazen E. Coury, Independent Consultant,]
11. Measuring the Information Society, UN-ITU-D, Geneva 2010.
12. NATIONAL PROFILE OF THE INFORMATION SOCIETY IN
IRAQ. United Nations, Distr. LIMITED,
E/ESCWA/ICTD/2009/12/Add.3 14 December 2009, ORIGINAL:
ARABIC ]
13. World Telecommunication/ICT Development Report 2010,
MONITORING THE WSIS TARGETS,A mid-term review, 2010
ITU, International Telecommunication Union, Place des Nations, CH-
1211 Geneva Switzerland]
14. Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA),
CAPACITY-BUILDING WORKSHOP ON INFORMATION
SOCIETY MEASUREMENTS: HOUSEHOLD AND BUSINESS
SURVEYS, CAIRO, 20-21 JUNE 2007]