S'pore is Asia's most wired nation

Singapore is better positioned to benefit economically from adopting new information technology than any other country in Asia, taking the top spot on the continent and ranking second in the world behind Sweden for a second year running, according to a report released yesterday.

The annual World Economic Forum report looked at 138 countries for 2010. Nordic nations had a strong showing, accounting for four of the top 10 spots.

Just behind Sweden and Singapore in the report's Networked Readiness Index were Finland, Switzerland and the United States.

The other Asian Tiger economies continue to make progress in the ranking, with Taiwan and South Korea improving five places to sixth and 10th, respectively, and Hong Kong following closely at 12th. China and India trailed in 37th and 43rd spot, respectively.

The index, which incorporates a survey of more than 15,000 executives, bases its relative rankings on a country's overall environment for information and communication technology, the willingness of individuals, businesses and governments to use it, and the actual level of usage.

The WEF forecast the next decade will bring a shift in Internet usage that will bring emerging countries to the fore.

Improvements in the speed and quality of broadband, as well as more interactive technologies, will have massive implications for productivity gains and new opportunities for individuals, the WEF said.

The impact of such changes has been felt most recently in the Middle East and North Africa, where political unrest has been facilitated in part by online social networks.


NETWORKED READINESS INDEX 2010/2011 TOP 10

(2009/2010 rank in brackets)

1 (1) Sweden

2 (2) Singapore

3 (6) Finland

4 (4) Switzerland

5 (5) United States

6 (11) Taiwan

7 (3) Denmark

8 (7) Canada

9 (10) Norway

10 (15) South Korea