Teletimes April 2011.pdf

more tech-savvy methods
and more use of information
technology is difficult, it leads
to many different challenges.
One challenge we were facing
and are now overcoming is the
people’s mindset. The level of
awareness amongst people has
immensely increased over time
now.
All these challenges are being
overcome with the efforts
of the government, and the
support from the private sector.
I think we are seeing more and
more e-services, the region has
transformed and there is high
development of IT services in
the country.
TT - What is the current
position of the Information
Technology level in the rural
areas of the country?
TAR - The government policy
here in Oman is to provide all
utility services to everybody
in the country regardless of
their location, electricity being
extended, water-supply being
extended. The same thing is
with telecom, in Oman we have
the objectives of providing
telecom services to everybody.
So, in areas where the provision
of telecom and IT services by
companies is not economically
suitable, the government comes
in and funds or subsidies such
projects. There are a lot of
efforts by Omantel and Nawras
to expand their reach and
provide Internet and Mobile
Access in the rural areas.
Oman has over 1000 schools
scattered over the country,
and ITA is working towards
providing these schools satellite
technology.
TT - Please tell our readers
about the E-governance project
in detail?
TAR - We have
launched in 2008,
what I call
the Phase of
E-governance,
through
www.oman.
om, which
is a national
portal. This is a
single entry to
all government
services and
information. This
portal also facilitates the
flow of information between
government-to-government
and government-to-citizen. It is
also accessible through mobile.
We also have kiosks around the
country, where users can use
their id cards and fingerprints
to access the portal. We also
developed an e-payment
gateway which is accessible
through the portal. It’s also
facilitating the commerce
industry in Oman. We have
also introduced a new project,
which is called the e-purse.
Through a smart-chip in the
ID card, you can load that
smart-chip with money and
We carry out a
lot of research in the IT
area as well as attend all
the important conferences and
meetings around the world,
organized by international
organizations such as the
United Nations.
use the ID card as a method of
payment. All the machines that
accept credit cards, also accept
ID cards. The same ID cards
can also be used for voting
during elections, and people
vote through their smartchips.
Besides that, these ID
cards also help in maintaining
records. So basically, the smartchips
in the ID cards have
become the center which has
made things very easy for the
Omani Citizens.
TT - The number of internet
users in Oman is still quite
smaller than other countries
in the Middle East like U.A.E,
Kuwait and Lebanon. Why is
it so? Please also comment on
how these trends are changing.
TAR - This was the case
sometime ago. But now things
are changing, the number of
internet and broadband users
has rapidly increased. If you
look at the curve, it went up
very sharply. Last year, we
recorded a 53% penetration
rate, while the latest record
shows that we have gone up
to a 69% penetration
rate. The coverage in
the percentage is
increasing rapidly.
TT - In the
modern era where
information and
technology are
two of the most
valuable assets,
what is ITA doing
to keep Oman up
with the evolving
technologies all around
the world?
TAR - There are a lot of things.
We carry out a lot of research
in the IT area as well as attend
all the important conferences
and meetings around the world,
organized by international
organizations such as the
United Nations. We keep
up to date through research.
We subscribe to a number
of research material. We
know what the international
trends and changes are. We
try to stay ahead of the
curves, anticipating the future
technologies and choosing the
right areas for the government
to invest in. As technology is
an ever-changing area, a lot
of thinking analysis, study
and research is carried out.
We try to increase the local
awareness, the skills and
capability of the Omani people.
We encourage innovation and
creativity, and give out awards
for encouragement. We are
continuously supporting people
and organizations that are
developing or helping develop
new technologies that can help
us to take Oman forward. T
15Apr - 14May 2011
www.teletimesinternational.com
19