From digital divide to digital opportunity Elements from the French approach

1. From digital divideto digital opportunityElements from the French approach Gilles Brégant gilles.bregant@industrie.gouv.fr

2. Structure 1. Focussing on the digital divide 2. French measures 3. Next steps

3. The digital divide ICT pervade welfare-critical domains: • education, health, culture, trade,... A set of complex issues arises: • gap between households, ages, education • gap between regions • gap between companies • gap between countries

4. French specificities • Widespread culture of online services... • ad-hoc interface : « Minitel » • ...but late, still moderate, PC equipment • 31 % of households equipped (est. 2000) • Booming use of internet and GSM • between 5,8 M and 10,1 M internet users (June 00) • 26 M GSM subscribers (30/9/2000) • Sustained interest for nation-wide solutions • universal service issue

5. A glimpse of internet usage Source : Médiamétrie-ISL

6. France within Europe In terms of internet penetration, noticeable differences within Europe Source : IDC

7. Actors to bridge the divide Multiple tiers are available: • International organisations • Central government • Local authorities • Companies • Associations & organisations

8. Structure 1. Focussing on the digital divide 2. French measures 3. Next steps

9. Divide tackled as a key issue • Governmental Action Plan, August 1997 • Coordinated by Prime Minister • 2 missions : e-commerce, administration • www.internet.gouv.fr • « CISI » 10/7/2000 • focus set on Digital Divide • new mission : public access to internet and multimedia (1/12/2000) • Plus: associations, local authorities

10. Households & regions • Free public internet access sites • 2500 « espaces publics numériques » by 2003 • free internet and multimedia training • Internet access points in public premises • 4800 in Post Office, libraries, ANPE by 2003 • PCs from companies or administration • gifts to individuals or associations • fiscal measures to encourage new equipment

11. An adequate regulation • Lower internet access rates • unbundling of the local loop, radio local loop, UMTS, satellite, high-bandwidth delivery • universal service if appropriate • Safer regulatory framework • e-payment, IAP liability, personal data, regulation of e-commerce, e-signature • Essential data on the net • essential public data, e-procurement, public forms

12. Education • Connecting schools • 100 % secondary schools connected (1/9/2000) • every primary school connected by 2002 • reduced access fare • Upgrading programmes • « internet and multimedia certificate » created • training of teachers and professors • Lifelong training • internet training for the unemployed

13. Culture, developing countries • Access to culture • access points, training, digitalization programme • support of French language • North-South divide • 100 MF/year contribution to major specialised funds (Inforoutes, InfoDev) • Four major orientations : (1) stable regulatory framework, (2) education & training (3) access points (4) content creation • active participation to Ecosoc, G8, EU initiative

14. Structure 1. Focussing on the digital divide 2. French measures 3. Next steps

15. Next steps • Better metrics to estimate the divide in 2001 • Evaluation of impact of existing measures • eEurope action plan • G8 DOT-Force to address global divide

16. From digital divideto digital opportunityElements from the French approach Gilles Brégant gilles.bregant@industrie.gouv.fr