Intel CEO Craig Barrett: 'Interconnect the Arab world'

In a speech before business and government leaders today, Barrett said the convergence of computing and communications and the worldwide build-out of the Internet are changing the way business is conducted and how people use technology at work and in the home.

"In the coming years, the world's economies will rely even more on the Internet to conduct commerce, communicate and manage information and rich media," Barrett said. "Information technology will define your future. IT is the critical driver of economic growth, and IT will be essential to long-term economic prosperity for the Arab world."

Despite very low PC ownership and Internet usage at about 2 and 3 percent respectively, Barrett said that countries in the Arab world are taking good first steps to capitalize on the tremendous marketplace opportunities being created by a pervasive Internet.

"Through its e-Government initiative, the United Arab Emirates has increased the region's Internet usage by nearly 30 percent, while in Jordan the REACH program lays out an action plan to strengthen the country's IT sector, create 30,000 new jobs, and increase foreign investments by $150 million and annual IT exports by $550 million by 2004," Barrett said, describing these efforts as examples of leadership for the entire Arab World to follow.

"The Arab World can accelerate its investments in computing and communication infrastructure, research and development programs, and education," Barrett said. "Reducing trade barriers, deregulating the telecommunications market and promoting regional stability will
help attract foreign investment. With this strategy, the Arab world will be well positioned to diversify, grow and connect with the global economy."

To accelerate the deployment of a robust technology infrastructure and realize price-to-performance benefits, Barrett called upon Arab nations to support standards, open architectures and cross-platform software. He also pointed to "Wi-Fi" as a new technology that can help the Arab world gain fast ground in its pursuit of economic diversity and growth.

Wi-Fi -- short for 802.11 wireless fidelity networks -- allows people to tap into a wireless Internet connection with their notebook PCs to communicate and be productive while in such places as airports, hotels, restaurants and cafes. Unlike hard-wired infrastructure, wireless networks can be installed quickly and at lower cost.

Wi-Fi enablement is underway in a number of locations, including the airports in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Lebanon. Barrett urged Arab nations to continue to deregulate spectrum and support Wi-Fi hotspot deployment in an effort to promote the growth of wireless computing.