Economic sanctions and a lack of IT skills have greatly hindered Internet access and technological development in Iraq, reported the NAU Internet Surveys.
Internet access in Iraq is provided mainly through four Internet centers that have opened in the last six months.
For 55 dollars a month, Iraqis can use the Internet centers to access the web and send and receive emails.
Companies that wish to have an online presence are allowed to install Internet connections, but the vast majority can't afford the connection price of 2,000 dollars, said NAU.
Although the government can control information coming into Iraq, censorship of the Internet is currently not as strict as one might expect.
Users can access foreign news sites, US government websites, and educational resources from around the globe.
However, due to the lack of basic IT skills in Iraq, NAU said that Internet access is enjoyed only by a small group of tech-savvy citizens.
Once a highly educated country, Iraq is rapidly falling behind in IT. Only 15 percent of the country's citizens know how to use a computer – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
