Equal opportunity for participation in the information society.

Digitization and connection progress with speed.
The ICT sector is developing rapidly. Today, many cell phones have quicker access to the Net compared to the average Internet access via the telephone network ten years back. And this wave of innovation is far from being over. As part of the “Digital Living” study, a Delphi survey was conducted with 56 experts. The majority of them predicted that transmission rates in urban areas will reach well over 50 megabits per second by 2015. In the premium segment, connections will be even faster, at more than 100 megabits per second. Compared to the number of lines at the end of 2007, the number of UMTS mobile lines would almost double by 2010, according to the experts.

Unequal access opportunities.
However, not all people are equally involved in this development. On the one hand, there are those who have access to the digital infrastructue and are familiar with using the new technologies. On the other hand, there are those who are cut off from the information and knowledge society. The gulf between these two groups, the so-called digital divide, is widening.

Building bridges over the digital divide.
This gives rise to one of our most important tasks as an ICT company: to create equal opportunities and unrestricted access for as many people as possible who have so far been cut off from the information and knowledge society, and to make it possible for them to enjoy the related benefits of development, growth and employment.
Hence we are pushing ahead with the nationwide expansion of our broadband infrastructure. We are promoting, for instance, the use of high-speed Internet in rural areas. However, the digital divide is also influenced by factors such as age or physical disability and inadequate education. To overcome these, we are developing special, needs-based solutions for unrestricted access and sponsor projects aimed at imparting media skills.