Fact Sheet July 2005 Estonia Today INFORMATION SOCIETY Estonia has in a short time caught up with advanced countries in terms of information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure and in the use of ICT in society. Attitudes favouring ICT, innovative thinking and progressive ICT entrepreneurship, have developed a strong technological infrastructure in Estonia. These factors combined with strong economic growth as well as macroeconomic stability form a favourable basis for further development. Key facts • 54 per cent of the population (aged 6-74 years) are Internet users (e-Track Survey, TNS EMOR, Spring 2005). • 34 per cent of the households have a computer at home, 82 per cent of home computers are connected to the Internet (e-Track Survey, TNS EMOR, Spring 2005). • All Estonian schools are connected to the Internet. • There are over 700 Public Internet Access Points in Estonia, 51 per 100 000 people (one of the highest numbers in Europe). • Income tax declarations can be submitted electronically via Internet. In 2005, 76% of Estonian taxpayers declared their income tax via the Internet. • Expenditures made by the government can be followed on the Internet in real-time. • Cabinet meetings have been changed to paperless sessions using a web-based document system. • 72 per cent of Estonian Internet users conduct their everyday banking via Internet (e-Track Survey, TNS EMOR, Spring 2005). • 93 per cent of the population are mobile phone subscribers (National Communication Board, Spring 2005). • Estonia is completely covered by digital mobile phone networks. Telecommunications rural districts. Mobile phone users can have GPRS Internet access almost anywhere in the country. Considerable investments into technology and communication networks involving foreign, mostly Nordic, The main task of the Estonian telecommunications policy is to investors have been made to modernise the ICT ensure competition and openness. The infrastructure in Estonia. As a result, Estonian telecommunications sector has been completely liberalised telecommunications sector is one of the most developed in since January 2001, when the special monopoly rights of the Central and Eastern Europe. Estonian Telephone Company ended. 12/ 12/ 12/ 12/ 12/ The main bodies in charge of regulatory issues in the field of 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 telecommunications are as follows: The Ministry of Economic Telephone Affairs and Communications (www.mkm.ee); National main (fixed) Communications Board (www.sa.ee); National Competition 35.9 34.9 34.2 32.8 32.9 lines per 100 Board (www.konkurentsiamet.ee). inhabitants Share of digital Internet 71.2 71.8 76.9 79.3 83 lines (%) TNS EMOR Internet usage surveys show that 54% of 6-74 Number of year old Estonians are using the Internet, which means that mobile phone 40.8 54 65 77 93 the community using the Internet has reached 648 000 subscribers per 100 inhabitants people. Compared to the previous year, an additional 4% of the Estonian population of the aforementioned age group i.e. Sources: National Communication Board www.sa.ee 27 000 people have become Internet users. In recent years, the number of fixed phone lines has The most active Internet users are 10-24 year old people, decreased as many consumers switched from fixed phones more than 90% of whom are Internet users. This age group to mobile phones. Meanwhile, new possibilities offered via has learnt to use the Internet at an even younger age. Almost fixed subscriber’s line have come into service. International two thirds of 6-9 year olds are already using the Internet. This analysts consider Estonia to be the leader in Eastern eclipses the number of users who are of active working age – Europe for broadband DSL access. In terms of DSL 60% of people aged 25-49 are Internet users. penetration per telephone lines, Estonia ranks presently among the top ten in the world. In addition to ADSL, The web serves different purposes in different age groups. wireless connections like WDSL and RDSL are offered in While the favourite activity of 6-14 year olds is playing games, Press and Information Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Islandi väljak 1, Tallinn 15049, Estonia Tel. +372 631 7600, Fax +372 631 7617, E-mail: [email protected] www.vm.ee Fact Sheet July 2005 the favourite of the 15-24 year olds is communicating with e-government and the symbol of Estonia in the Internet. friends via e-mail. Young people also like surfing the Current election laws include an e-voting option beginning at Internet. The Internet usage of older age groups is more the 2005 elections, provided that all crucial technical issues functional – Internet banking and searching for specific (e.g. safeguarding against fraud) are solved by that information is important, also communicating via e-mail. time. In the summer of 2001, the Government created a (Spring 2005, TNS EMOR) web page Täna Otsustan Mina (“I Decide Today”, tom.riik.ee). 34 per cent of the households have computers at home Ministries upload all their draft bills and amendments there, and 82 per cent of home computers are connected to the allowing people to review, comment on and make proposals Internet. Most home Internet users have high-speed on the legislative process as well as propose amendments to Internet connections. The growth in home Internet existing legislation. Ideas that gain substantial support will be connections has also made the home the location where reviewed by competent bodies. the Internet is used the most. (e-Track Survey, TNS EMOR Since January 2002, the Citizenship and Migration Board www.emor.ee , Spring 2005). (www.id.ee) has been issuing a new primary domestic 72 per cent of Estonian Internet users conduct their identification document - the ID card. In addition to many everyday banking via Internet. Internet banking has advanced security features, the card has a machine-readable become a common channel through which people perform code and a microchip containing the visual data on the card transfers, pay for services, pay taxes, communicate with and two security certificates (long number series), to verify the the Tax Board, etc. Access to various information and bank individual and supply digital signatures. Possible future uses services through mobile phones using Wireless Application of the card include integration of ID cards and banking cards Protocol (WAP) are popular, e.g. the financial institution and various access cards. As of May 2005, Hansapank alone has 31 000 WAP-clients (September 753 000 ID-cards were issued. 2004). The high level of Internet use in Estonia is largely Education, Research and Development correlated to the early adoption of the Internet in the (R&D) research and higher education sector and the existence of a developed telecommunications network. Five universities (University of Tartu www.ut.ee, Tallinn Technical University www.ttu.ee, Estonian Business School All Estonian schools are connected to the Internet, as a www.ebs.ee, University Nord www.nord.ee, and Tallinn result of the state-run "Tiger Leap" programme, Pedagogical University www.tpu.ee), a number of technical implemented from 1997-1999. Even the three-student educational institutions and many training companies provide schoolhouse on the geographically isolated Ruhnu Island, basic and specialised education in IT and IT management. with about 40 inhabitants, has an Internet connection. Thanks to the "Tiger Leap" programme, school children are The IT College (www.itcollege.ee) was created in 2000 as a above-average users of the Internet. A short-term goal is to co-operation project between the two largest Estonian public have at least 1 computer per 20 pupils in every school. universities, the Tallinn Technical University and the People all over the country can access the Internet from University of Tartu, and the Estonian ICT industry. The IT over 700 Public Internet Access Points (PIAP), 51 PIAPs College is a private institution, it works very closely with both universities as well as with the IT and telecom industries. per 100 000 people. The PIAP has a special traffic sign, with the @ symbol, showing its location. Most of PIAPs are The E-Governance Academy (www.ega.ee) was created in located in libraries and other municipal buildings across the 2002 as a non-profit organisation for the development and country. One can easily locate the nearest PIAP by analysis of e-governance and e-democracy, whose aim is to accessing this website www.regio.delfi.ee/ipunktid. There transfer knowledge to top policy-makers and government are around 550 areas (city squares, hotels, pubs, airports Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) etc.) that currently provide high-speed wireless Internet specialists in developing nations. EGA implements its mission access. More information: www.wifi.ee. through the provision of training services, organising research, facilitating networking and enabling exchange of E-Government and E-Democracy experience in broad areas of e-governance. Located in Tallinn, Estonia, the Academy provides a platform for In August 2000, the Government of Estonia, as a world analysing and systematizing both international and domestic pioneer, changed its Cabinet meetings to paperless experience into forms of knowledge that can be transferred to sessions using a web-based document system. those interested both in Estonia and abroad. The objective of the new web-based system is to automate The main advisory body to the Government in R&D is the the preparation process and the proceedings of Cabinet Estonian Research and Development Council (RDC, meetings, which includes preparing as many materials as www.tan.ee). Priority has been given to information possible digitally, which reduces copying costs and delivery technology, gene technology, environmental technology and time. material science. In developing new technologies, one of the Ministers peruse draft bills and regulations, make most successful fields is also cryptography.