Doha, Qatar: Qatar ranks among the world’s top performers in infrastructure coverage, connection quality, and access to digital devices. This achievement is largely due to government initiatives, such as the extensive rollout of mobile 5G coverage across nearly all regions and significant investments in fiber optic networks have further enhanced network quality.
Digital technology has significantly evolved globally and in Qatar, transforming business, government operations. The country has shown strong commitment to a digitalised and technology-driven future, integrating technology into national strategies like the Digital Agenda 2030, and promoting digital inclusion and local innovation, noted 2024 Digital Inclusion Index (DII) for Qatar report launched by Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT).
Central to the Digital Agenda 2030 is ensuring all societal segments benefit from technological advancements. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift to digital services (e.g., telehealth, QR-code menus), highlighting the need for digital inclusion. This involves not just access and affordability but also creating a digital-enabling social ecosystem with NGOs and private sector collaboration to provide opportunities for individuals to engage in the digital world.
Despite global advancements, a digital divide among population segments persists, emphasising the need for digital inclusion. The Qatar Digital Inclusion Index assesses digital inclusion, serving as a monitoring mechanism and guiding framework for policy efforts.
Qatar’s focus on digital inclusion is aligned with the objectives set forth in the Digital Agenda 2030, Qatar National Vision 2030, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This initiative ensures that every resident, regardless of socioeconomic status, has the necessary resources and capabilities to participate in an increasingly digital world.
By addressing key areas such as digital accessibility, affordability, ability, and content availability, the Index enables targeted interventions to advance societal wellbeing, economic growth, and educational opportunities.
The launch of the Qatar DII demonstrates the country’s commitment to understanding and improving digital inclusion, ensuring that all residents benefit from the advancements in digital technology. It measures key aspects like accessibility, ability, affordability, policy, content availability, attitude, and adoption, using both global and local metrics.
Establishing this index is crucial for identifying opportunities in digital inclusion, whereas its blend of global and local metrics provides a unique and comprehensive overview of digital inclusion in Qatar. Local surveys in Qatar compare digital inclusion across various population segments (i.e., nationality, gender, age, location, education, and work sector), the report noted.
As Qatar aims for a technology-driven future by 2030, the next five years are crucial for enhancing digital inclusion. This requires continuous efforts from the government, NGOs, and private companies to support the digital journey, ensuring all residents benefit from technological advancements. Such efforts require long-term and continuous commitments.
