CECUA is a non-profit user association registered in

CECUA is a non-profit user association registered in Brussels www. cecua. org

Information Society for all – from vision to reality with NEW DRIVERS Dr. Jon Thorhallsson President CECUA Baltic IT&T 2005

Old Drivers • Governments – Telecom deregulation – Service Directive – Broad band vision Agenda: To ensure competitive advantage (Lisbon Strategy)

Old Drivers cont. • IT&T Industries – Telecom operators – ISP providers – Hardware and Software producers Agenda: Sell Hardware, Software and Services

The New Drivers • Businesses – Banking – Tourism – Hotels – Airlines – Retail – Others

Value add propositions • Airlines offer better deals on the Internet if you book yourself • Airlines are pushing passengers to check themselves in at airports • Hotels offer lower rates if you book yourself on the Internet • Retailers are offering goods for sale on Internet at better price

Agenda • Stay competitive in a global business environment • Cut down on people costs by letting customers do the work employees did before • Use IT&T

People reactions • Happy about it? • Good old conservativism? • They feel they are NOT ready for it

New Digital Divide? • Across EU digital divide • In the end what is good for the people will be good for the DRIVERS

Cultural & Linguistic issues • Upside – The Drivers know that to get to people they have to speak their language and stay in the cultural background of the people – They will use local languages and local culture.

Cultural & Linguistic issues • Downside – If the target market is too small will they use non local language and culture materials? – Extinction for minority languages?

What can we do? • Special measures are needed to protect smaller language regions from adverse effects or extinction – Language and culture regulation? – Language translation solutions? – Conferences to raise awareness and promote discussion

Bill of Rights Fears, expectations, opportunities CECUA Conference Brussels 1998 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. DIGNITY FREEDOM of PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT FREEDOM of COMMUNICATION CULTURAL PRESERVATION RIGHT of ACCESS RIGHT for RELIABLE and FUNCTIONING SERVICES 7. NETIQUETTE 8. RIGHT for ACCURATE and UNDERSTANDABLE CHARGING 9. RIGHT for REDRESS

Other issues? • The New Drivers have to take a leading role in Internet Governance – Good position with Local Governments – Good position with EU Commission – Good position with EU Parliament • The New Drivers have the ear of Local Governments, Commission and Parliament

Key issue • Safe and Secure Internet – National Governments are slow – EU Commission failing – EU Parliament not understanding

. eu example • Unique historical opportunity for a SAFE AND SECURE European Internet region • Commission and Parliament failed • Status: – 7 years late –. eu a copy of. com?

Bill of Rights Fears, Expectations, Opportunities CECUA Conference Brussels 1998 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. DIGNITY FREEDOM of PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT FREEDOM of COMMUNICATION CULTURAL PRESERVATION RIGHT of ACCESS RIGHT for RELIABLE and FUNCTIONING SERVICES 7. NETIQUETTE 8. RIGHT for ACCURATE and UNDERSTANDABLE CHARGING 9. RIGHT for REDRESS