Swedish Post and Telecom Authority Consumers service and needs Social and economic challenges Lars Erik Axelsson Expert Advisor, Access Networks PTS Sweden

Soft issues Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in society

Retrospect 1993mobile telephony becoming a consumer product 1995dial-up Internet with 28 kbit/s is introduced These services has totally changed society Impossible to predict at that time Impossible now to predict the situation in 2033 Challenge: To utilize ICT to strengthen competitiveness growth innovation

ICT and Internet opportunities New technologies, applications and work methods increase economic growth and social welfare Facilitates worldwide innovation of new offerings Businesses can enter an international market Internet gives great opportunities for citizens to communicate with each other and authorities Internet contributes to development, democracy and liberation around the world

ICT has changed the world It has changed our society the way companies do business how governments provide services our mobility democratic conversation and debate The last decades has seen a historic paradigm shift that will continue to transform our society and influence the life of every one of us

ICT and the economy Contributes to productivity growth Changes how other sectors do business Changes life styles High speed networks have the same revolutionary impact on society as the introduction of electric power and railways Services are moved from the physical into the digital world

The role of ICT in societal development New technology and solutions facilitates life and participation in society 2 out of 3 Swedes file their tax return electronically and almost everyone uses e-banking Citizens need to be digitally adept and connected Every citizen should have the opportunity of digital participation A coordinated approach involving all sectors of society is necessary to achieve this goal

Digital competence Many people have never used the Internet People 65 years old and above People on low income Unemployed people People with less education Digital competence can be decisive to get a job, or to start and run a business Children must have ICT knowledge taught in school Adults must improve digital skills

Entrepreneurship and business development ICT is vital for businesses more effective operations more accessible for customers and suppliers driver for product and process development gives access to the international market Public sector can promote business development by making public information available and easily accessible

Public services Public institutions and private businesses should be encouraged to create on-line services Public institutions should share and ”re-cycle” data eGovernment services save time and money for authorities, businesses and citizens Avoid applications demanding specific technical solutions or devices eGovernment services simplifies interaction between citizen and public institution and improves efficiency and transparency

The ”24-hour authority” In year 2000: swedish strategy to increase citizens access to public services Since 2007, government pressure for better electronic interaction within administartion In Sweden, electronic tax filing saved 7,5 MEuros in 2013 In Estonia, e-voting in parlamentary elections is used since 2007

Democracy ICT is often a decisive factor in on-going changes of society, for better and sometimes worse Restrictions of freedom of speech constitutes a violation of human rights ICT offers people better means to stay informed Internet facilitates access to information, transparency in political activities, and participation in the democratic process Internet helps to strengthen democracy

Hard issues Considerations regarding network roll-out

ICT for all For businesses, access to ICT is necessary in all parts of the country ICT is also of great importance for the citizens everyday life An ICT infrastructure with good national coverage strengthens regional and local competitiveness

The geographical digital divide Big cities- multiple infrastructures (xDSL, cable, mobile) - competition - good selection of services results in high digital competence Small cities and rural areas - one or no infrastructure - basic or no services results in low digital competence

Bridging the digital divide Bridging the digital divide is an issue of national importance Access is a necessary condition for overcoming the digital divide Bridging the digital divide requires heavy investments Who should pay?

The Swedish approach Networks in metropolitan areas and cities are built with private money, without any government subsidies In villages and rural areas, government subsidies for network investments are motivated Optical fibre access networks are extremely expensive in rural areas The 800 MHz-band was made available for mobile broadband

The Swedish approach, cont. In 2011, six frequency blocks in the 800 MHz-band were auctioned to three mobile networks to be used for 4G mobile broadband 33 million Euros was awarded to one network to cover all permanent dwellings and work places without broadband access 100 percent broadband coverage will be reached in 2014, financed by the mobile industry

Development on the end user market Sweden: 75 % of all new cell phones sold are smart ones In Q1 2013, lap top and desk top PC sales fell 19 % In Q1 2013, tablet (mobile and Wifi) sales increased 150 % Global forecast: End of 2013tablet sales > laptop PC sales End of 2015 tablet sales > laptop and desk top PC sales

Conclusion Consumers want to communicate via a combination of mobile broadband and Wifi. To meet future consumer demand, a strategy to bridge the digital divide should be based on mobile broadband.

Thank you! Any questions?