'Internet for all' plan urged

By SOMAN BABY
A CALL to launch a scheme to spread computers and Internet connections to every home in Bahrain went out yesterday.
Bahrain Internet Society chairman Ahmed Al Hujairy said that the Internet now reaches only 50 per cent of Bahraini homes.
He said that an Internet training centre should also be established to train the unemployed, housewives and people with special needs as well as small and medium businesses.
These steps will further harness Bahrain's potential in promoting the standards of its websites and increase in the level of awareness of the importance of electronic content.
Mr Al Hujairy was speaking at the Bahrain e-Content Award 2007 (BEA) ceremony held at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre.
The ceremony was organised by the Industry and Commerce Ministry in association with the Bahrain Internet Society.
It was attended by Shura Council chairman Ali Saleh Al Saleh, Central Informatics Organisation president Mohammed Al Amer, Interior Ministry assistant under-secretary for administrative affairs Brigadier Basim Yacob Al Hamer, top government officials and business leaders.
Mr Al Hujairy, who is also BEA organising committee head, also recommended helping small local organisations develop and implement projects to improve IT and telecommunications to make Bahrain the choice for international conferences and lectures in this field.
Other recommendations include developing and implementing a national strategy for information technology and communication, further deregulation of the telecommunications market and enhancing rules and laws to protect intellectual property and prevent piracy.
He also stressed the importance of making Bahrain an international centre for IT and telecommunication companies and facilitating their entry and operation, building a free-zone for international IT and telecommunication companies and preparing the necessary infrastructure to conduct their business.
The result of the award emphasises the success that has been achieved in terms of creativity in Bahrain and highlights the levels attained, he added.
The most important result of this competition is the rise in the number of participants to more than 400 Bahraini competitors compared to 150 in 2005, said Mr Al Hujairy.
"It should also be noted that the Bahrain e-Content Award falls under the umbrella of the World Summit Award, the registration and evaluation process being based on international standards studied and set by experts in the field of e-Content."
Bahrain has the basic infrastructure to grow and develop IT and make it a vital part of its national economy in order to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and increase opportunities in the job market, he said.
soman@gdn.com.bh
THE WINNERS
e-Government: Finance Ministry website, Interior Ministry website, Municpalities and Agricultural Ministry website, the Bahrain e-government website
Special Mention - Central Bank of Bahrain website
e-Health: Health Ministry website, Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) Royal Medial Services website
e-Business: Batelco - electronic version of the Batelco Annual Report 2006, Gulf Air website, Bahrain GP website, Customer Interaction Manager - Invita website, BBK website.
Special mention - Bahrain Bay
e-Culture: Jihat Al Shi'r - Qassim Haddad, Arab Culture CafŽ - Jamal Ahmed AL Khayyat, Tahmazi Contemporary Art - Khalid Tahmazi, Tarbya Net - Nader Al Mallah.
Special Mention - Al Waqt Newspaper
e-Learning: Cyberia PC - Ali Al Musawi, Once upon a Time - Jihad Abbas, Physics - Ali Al Aswad
Special Mention - Learn French with Tidoo - Amani Shajrah
e-Inclusion: Al Ghad Youth Magazine, Be Free Center website,
Special Mention - Women Gateway portal
e-Entertainment: Bahrain Explorer website, Magic Island website, Mobile Portal - Aywah website, Click Bahrain website
eScience: Special Mention - Smart car robot - Mohammed Ahmed Abu Aesh
Jury list: Elham Saleh , Ghazwa Sulaibeekh, Ali Al Majeed, Nabeel Ahmed, Hind Al Doseri, Aneesh Kakkoth, Hisham Al Hashimi, Zuhai Al Kooheji, Nawaf Mohammed, Salamn Jassim, Yousif Al Sobaie, Renan Rashwan, Maban Al Mansoor, Hussain Habib.