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Discuss this article (28 Comments)Failure to communicate
by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Tuesday, 06 October 2009
The job of an authoritative web site like Arabianbusiness.com is to report on what are often complex corporate issues in a language that is measured, balanced and considered.
So here goes...
Internet provision in the GCC is pathetic, dreadful, woeful, over-priced, slow, backward, a rip-off, holding back the progress of the entire region, regulated by pitiful institutions, protected in state cartels, suffered by millions, unfit for purpose.
Don’t just take my word for it. Qatar, which has the highest per capita income ($7,750 per month) on the planet, is unable to provide broadband quality fit for today’s applications such as social networking, video streaming and file sharing, according to a world-wide study sponsored by Cisco.
And Qatar is the best country in the region, according to the study called the Broadband Quality Score (BQS) survey, which analysed approximately 24 million records sourced from actual broadband speed tests from Speedtest.net (Ookla), with results from 66 countries from May to July of this year.
Think of the BQS as a bit like a body mass index. You need to be in a certain range to be capable of sustaining human life.
A BQS of 30 is considered sufficient to run today’s run of the mill web sites such as Youtube and Facebook. You need a BQS of 50 to cope with high definition video streaming – something that households in advanced nations take for granted today if they spend around $50 per month on broadband.
Qatar’s BQS is 25. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia both rated 24 while the UAE was ranked 23. This, despite eye-watering prices for technology and services that have been plummeting in price for years.
Central and Eastern Europe (countries like Bulgaria, Slovenia, Montenegro and Belarus) has an average BQS of 38.2. Most people in these countries don’t even have shoes, but they have broadband that is almost 50 percent better than ours. Bulgaria, a country with an average monthly wage of just $500, has a BQS is 49.
The horrific state of the region’s internet provision defies explanation. It is a disgrace, unchallenged by normal market forces, and seemingly in perpetual denial about its collective failure.
READERS' COMMENTS
Disclaimer: The views expressed here by our readers are not necessarily shared by ArabianBusiness.com or its employees.
The law
Posted by Louai Alasfahani, Salmiya, Kuwait on Thursday 15 October 2009 at 00:56 UAE time
in 1998 the European Convention on Human Rights was incorporated into British law. Printed here are the Convention Rights, or the rights and and fundamental freedom set out in the Convention. This text enshrines the ethical values that underpin many societies. It is organized around basic principles that are useful to use in considering all ethical codes of practice. I draw the attention of the reader to the law pertaining to the Prohibition of Discrimination: The enjoyment of the rights and freedoms set forth in this Convention shall be secured without discrimination on any ground such as sex, race, color, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, association with a national minority, property, birth or other status. The remarks made by Rob were unmoral, unethical and illegal. his failed attempt at humor means his career as a comedian is over so it is about time he concentrates on something he is actually good at. by the way i am from Bulgaria and speak three languages and know more about the EU laws than Rob and i like many Bulgarians have plenty of shoes and Rob can verify this by visiting Bulgaria or by standing on stage to witness a live and personal account of the Bush/shoe incident ;)
Posted by Louai Alasfahani, Salmiya, Kuwait on Thursday 15 October 2009 at 00:56 UAE time
in 1998 the European Convention on Human Rights was incorporated into British law. Printed here are the Convention Rights, or the rights and and fundamental freedom set out in the Convention. This text enshrines the ethical values that underpin many societies. It is organized around basic principles that are useful to use in considering all ethical codes of practice. I draw the attention of the reader to the law pertaining to the Prohibition of Discrimination: The enjoyment of the rights and freedoms set forth in this Convention shall be secured without discrimination on any ground such as sex, race, color, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, association with a national minority, property, birth or other status. The remarks made by Rob were unmoral, unethical and illegal. his failed attempt at humor means his career as a comedian is over so it is about time he concentrates on something he is actually good at. by the way i am from Bulgaria and speak three languages and know more about the EU laws than Rob and i like many Bulgarians have plenty of shoes and Rob can verify this by visiting Bulgaria or by standing on stage to witness a live and personal account of the Bush/shoe incident ;)
Shoe Hadda Maskara?
Posted by Sheikh Paw, Jebel Ali, UAE on Monday 12 October 2009 at 10:11 UAE time
Chill guys, just a hand at exagerated humour.. stop with the petty things and comment on the main article.. sure.. slow internet is slowing the economy !!! very frustrating !!
i used to use 20MBPS in a small city called wollongong in australia back in the year 2005 and UAE has JUST come up with a eye-watering price of 500+ dhs / month for 16MBPS.
Shoe Hadda Maskara Habibi !?
Posted by Sheikh Paw, Jebel Ali, UAE on Monday 12 October 2009 at 10:11 UAE time
Chill guys, just a hand at exagerated humour.. stop with the petty things and comment on the main article.. sure.. slow internet is slowing the economy !!! very frustrating !!
i used to use 20MBPS in a small city called wollongong in australia back in the year 2005 and UAE has JUST come up with a eye-watering price of 500+ dhs / month for 16MBPS.
Shoe Hadda Maskara Habibi !?
Thank you Rob
Posted by Dan, Stockholm, Sweden on Friday 9 October 2009 at 02:43 UAE time
This was right on. The internet provider’s monopolistic approaches are holding back the progress of GCC. And being monopolistic provides the ground for terrible services and exorbitant prices. Unfortunately until the governments of the region realize the benefits of free market in the field of communication and the massive advantages (as in US or EU) it will bring to the region, nothing will change.
On the note of the shoes it was wrong of you as you did hurt people’s feelings. It is though true that an average monthly wage of $500 (and that after almost 20 years of market economy) dose not buy many shoes. A bit self critic is also in place.
Posted by Dan, Stockholm, Sweden on Friday 9 October 2009 at 02:43 UAE time
This was right on. The internet provider’s monopolistic approaches are holding back the progress of GCC. And being monopolistic provides the ground for terrible services and exorbitant prices. Unfortunately until the governments of the region realize the benefits of free market in the field of communication and the massive advantages (as in US or EU) it will bring to the region, nothing will change.
On the note of the shoes it was wrong of you as you did hurt people’s feelings. It is though true that an average monthly wage of $500 (and that after almost 20 years of market economy) dose not buy many shoes. A bit self critic is also in place.
Thank you!
Posted by Ahmed on Thursday 8 October 2009 at 19:01 UAE time
Rob, I take off my hat to you for having the cohones to call a spade a spade. In this part of the world where things exist in an incredible bubble and ignorance thrives amongst the masses, it is so refreshing and an absolute delight to see the rare article restore some semblance of sanity.
Anyone who has step foot "outside" knows exactly what you are talking about and your article describes their frustrations perfectly. Thanks for doing the people a great service.
Posted by Ahmed on Thursday 8 October 2009 at 19:01 UAE time
Rob, I take off my hat to you for having the cohones to call a spade a spade. In this part of the world where things exist in an incredible bubble and ignorance thrives amongst the masses, it is so refreshing and an absolute delight to see the rare article restore some semblance of sanity.
Anyone who has step foot "outside" knows exactly what you are talking about and your article describes their frustrations perfectly. Thanks for doing the people a great service.
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