Dubai: Numbers have always dominated technology. They're the basis of science after all, but this year's Gitex Technology Week opened with some different types of figures, courtesy Chris Dedicoat, Cisco's President for Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Russia who gave the opening speech at the Global Leader Summit.
The first number he gave us was the percentage of 19- to 29-year-olds who said that mobile phones were the number one thing they couldn't live without. It was 97. There were a few other things they also couldn't do without, like cars and the internet; but it was the percentage for the same group who said they could not live without their significant others that was surprising: that was 43 per cent.
The number got a small laugh, but that was it. It would probably be funnier if it wasn't true. People have been concerned for years that we're becoming a society that is more tuned into machines than other people.
People who think that are missing the point. Those numbers don't represent importance — they do represent necessity. I love my wife more than I love my pants, but while I can get through the day without my wife, getting through the day without my pants is nearly impossible. In 2011, the same goes with broadband.
Dedicoat had other numbers, too. A world map showed real GDP was set to rise faster in Asia than in the West. Again, those numbers — and there were a lot of them, so please excuse me for not including them here — just seemed to support what people already believe, which is that Asia is the market that many companies, especially technology companies, are looking at in the near future.
Hiring Asian talent
That has more repercussions than some people think. For starters, it means that Europe and North America can no longer look East for cheap labour. Wages in those countries have risen 20 to 25 per cent. Companies looking to hire in Asia today are looking for talent.
Another less-than-surprising number in Dedicoat's speech was 40. That was the number of places that the UAE has moved forward in a Cisco index of companies that were "prepared for applications of tomorrow". In total, there were just 14 in the top category, including the UAE, with — surprise — Asian countries like South Korea leading the pack.
The UAE's internet penetration has noticeably improved over the past couple of years. Even casual users can see that. Just a few years ago an 8MB line was available, which is what I have, although you can already get faster. But there is still room for improvement. In a number of developed countries you can get 50MB into your home without breaking the bank.
Whinging about broadband speed may sound trivial, but add up all the numbers and you can see the bigger picture. Technology has become integral to our lives, our salaries and our economies. Just because the UAE has come a long way in a short period of time doesn't mean that we can stop now.
