Digital Single Market – the Key to Competitive Economy 32nd Session of the Baltic Assembly and 19th Baltic Council Saeima of the Republic of Latvia November 2013, Riga Signe Bāliņa, Dr. Oec. President of Latvian Information and Communications Technology Association (LIKTA)

ABOUT LIKTA Latvian Information and Communications Technology Association (LIKTA) is a professional association representing the ICT industry and ICT professionals, established in 1998 LIKTA unites more than 220 members including over 90 organizations of ICT industry, research and educational institutions, as well as individual members (ICT professionals) Main objectives of LIKTA are development of information society, ICT education and growth of ICT industry LIKTA is an active member of Pan-European associations: Telecentre Europe association CEPIS – Council of European Professional Informatics Societies ECDL – European Computer Driving License Foundation

DIGITAL AGENDA FOR EUROPE – FLAGSHIP AREAS Digital Agenda for Europe – European Commission’s action plan aimed at increasing welfare and quality of life in Europe 7 pillars: Interoperability and standards Digital Single Market (28 actions) Trust and security Fast and ultra-fast Internet access Enhancing digital literacy, skills and inclusion Research and innovation ICT-enabled benefits for EU society

DIGITAL PROGRAMME FOR EUROPE – GOALS How do we proceed towards meeting the goals? The target to reach 100% broadband coverage in Europe should have been met by 2013 Status at the end of 2012 — EU 95.5%, Latvia 82.9%, Estonia 87.8%, Lithuania 96.8% Ultra-fast broadband access to be enabled by 2020: 50 % of European households should subscribe to Internet connections above 100 Mb/s. Status at the end of 2012 – EU 3.4%, Latvia 20%, Estonia 3.6%, Lithuania 10% In 2015 the difference between roaming and national tariffs should approach zero Current status — difference 33% Other goals — rollout of cross-border public services, public contribution to research and development Source: Digital Agenda Scoreboard 2012

EUROPEAN SINGLE MARKET FOR ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS Today, there exist 28 licensing, numbering and spectrum assignment schemes in EU EU market lags behind USA and China

EUROPEAN SINGLE MARKET FOR ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS Europe’s investments in industry are insufficient Solution – a single EU regulatory framework? How to achieve efficiency and avoid overregulation? Goal – higher investment inflow to enhance market growth

DRAFT REGULATION European Commission’s Proposals will not give the much- needed boost to enable the meeting of the goals of the Digital Agenda for Europe The new regulatory framework should be «minimised»; an in- depth revision of the existing industry rules must be conducted The regulatory framework must restore investments, drive innovation and create new jobs

DRAFT REGULATION New approach to competition must be introduced to minimise the existing fragmentation in the market

New powerful telecommunications market entrants must be created which are capable of competing at global level DRAFT REGULATION

DRAFT REGULATION: FLAGSHIP ELEMENTS Issue of a single EU authorisation (operator password) valid throughout EU Changes to the system based on which cross-border cooperation of national regulatory bodies is organised Virtual broadband access Spectrum Net neutrality Roaming Protection of consumer rights

BUILDING DIGITAL COMPETENCE Key barriers to the development of Europe’s Internet economy — concerns as to the security and privacy of payments, unreliable e-Environment Goal – to promote use of e- Commerce and e-Services to take maximum advantage of ICT benefits

BUILDING DIGITAL COMPETENCE Goals of the Digital Agenda for Europe: By 2015, 50% of the population should be buying online. Year To Date (YTD) status – 45% By 2015, 50% of EU citizens should use e-Government, with more than half of them returning completed forms. YTD status – 44%

E-SKILLS/DIGITAL LITERACY By 2015, 90% of jobs across all sectors will require digital skills There is a considerable shortage of ICT specialists in Europe – by 2015 there will be up to unfilled ICT specialists’ vacancies Technology development is ongoing, but are we ready to live in information society? Digital learning aimed at youth, teachers, senior persons and SMEs

E-SKILLS/DIGITAL LITERACY Notable e-skills events in Latvia eSkills Week, training to small and micro enterprises, Microsoft Latvia «Partner in Learning» Programme aimed at teachers, Lattelecom training programme Get connected, Latvia! «Pieslēdzies, Latvija!» aimed at senior persons

LATVIA: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES Challenges: There is a concern that the regulations governing the various industry sectors will overlap Over-regulation is not likely to promote the meeting of the Digital Single Market goals A new bureaucratic burden to be borne by electronic communications operators Challenge to be faced by operators – who is going to provide multimedia content in the Digital Single Market?

LATVIA: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES Opportunities: Instrument with which to increase the competitive advantage of national operators – a single EU authorisation enabling operation throughout 28 EU Member States Minimised market segmentation Europe’s single market as a tool by which to face globalisation