EOTO Response #3

ICT in Iraq Drew Lomax Liberation Watch

Drew's EOTO discusses in depth how war and neglect as well as a number of other factors have resulted in a lagging telecommunications infrastructure in Iraq. Drew states that, "Predictably, figures of Internet access are far lower with less than one percent of Iraqis online. If Iraq were to achieve a 10 percent Internet access rate by the spring of 2005, it would lead the Arab world and lag behind only Israel in rates of Internet usage." He also suggests that although this is a long-shot, it is possible. His view is an optimistic one, though unrealistic perhaps.

Yes, narrowing the digital divide would help achieve a social, political, and economic recovery, but at what cost? As Drew points out, more research is needed to determine how Iraqis are going online and why--this would help me respond more fully to the issue. I do, however, see the risk that he mentions in regard to Internet use as a form of recruitment and coordination. How can we improve the infrastructure and nip this problem in the bud at the same time? That is my question?

I definitely had to do a little of my own reading and research to get up to speed on this topic. Here are some of the links I found helpful:

$300m needed for Iraq telecom sector
Investments to the tune of $300m is required to develop the telecommunications infrastructure in Iraq, which was destroyed during the US-led invasion of the country, a senior official at the Arab Regional Office, Cairo, of the Geneva-based International Telecommunications Union (ITU), said here yesterday. more

Rebuilding plans for postwar Iraq depend on IT
The State Department and the Pentagon are already working with the private sector to plan for the rebuilding of Iraq's infrastructure, including IT and telecommunications systems. Under a State Department program known as the Future of Iraq Project, Iraqi exiles with expertise in IT and other disciplines have delivered to the Bush administration studies and recommendations on reconstructing postwar Iraq. more

Assistance for Iraq This site offers major accomplishments and updates.
Before the conflict, 1.2 million Iraqis subscribed to landline telephone service, and much of Iraq's telecommunication network was centralized in Baghdad. A large part of the network's switching component was damaged during the conflict and service was disrupted. As part of USAID's effort to restore critical infrastructure, USAID is working with the Iraq Telecommunications and Postal Commission (ITPC) to restore the nation's fiber optic network, repair the phone switching system in Baghdad and restore international telecommunications capability. more