Pakistan most affordable country in world for telecom, ICT services: WEF

Pakistan currently has the lowest price points

Pakistan has been ranked as most the affordable country for ICT services, according to a report published by the World Economic Forum.

The WEF on Thursday published its annual “Global Information Technology Report 2016” which showed Pakistan’s technology and telecom market had the world’s lowest price points as compared to other markets from around the globe.

The report analysed relevant indexes from 139 global markets and rated them against each other. The countries were rated for their financial conditions as well as other factors such as usage, general environment, and impact.



“Pakistan is the market with the lowest price points," the report said.

PHOTO: GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY REPORT

However, the report stated that while these affordability indicators are measured in terms of prices associated with the usage of ICT service and the prices that pose as the entry barrier for the masses, they are not associated with quality adjusted prices.

Further, the report measured various indicators in “Network Readiness Index". The countries were rated at the fundamental rating level of 'pillars'. Different 'pillars' then added up to the concerned 'sub-indexes' and the 'sub-indexes' were aggregated to the ultimate "Networked Readiness Index".

Although Pakistan made it to the top in terms of affordability, in other sub-indexes it ranked poorly and wasn't able to make it to the top 100 for any.  Pakistan ranked 110 of 139 on the "Network Readiness Index", as compared to 112 last year.

Here are some of the categories listed:

Over All Network Readiness Index: 110

Political and Regulatory Environment: 128

Business and Innovation Environment: 98

Infrastructure: 126

Affordability: 1

Skills: 127

Individual Usage: 123

Business Usage: 101

Government Usage: 103

Economic Impacts: 105

Social Impacts: 106



PHOTO: GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY REPORT

You can access the full report here.