Faster - via Satellite - SEE
Access to Information
Society
Tihomir DIVJAK
Southeast Europe Business Forum
22-23 November 2012, Istanbul, Turkey
Some facts
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Daily usage of ICT - An indispensable privilege
Life within Information Society
World Bank study 2009: ICT help in crisis
overcoming
“10% increase of investment in introduction of
fast internet causes a 1.38 % rise of GDP”
Doubling broadband speed upgrades GDP by
0.3%
BB key of economic growth and education
development in the world: e-Everything
Europe “Gâté”
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95% of Europeans now have access to
broadband Internet infrastructure
European Directive COM (2010) 553 Final
„Regional Policy contributions to smart
growth in Europe 2020“
FTTH…
Key words: „I want my 100 Mb/s
wired/wireless“
Satellites as complement solution
15 – 20 M of European households do not
have access to BB
StateAids: UK, Italy, Ireland
Subsidies
COUNTRY
PERCENTAGE ( % )
Albania
49
Bosnia and Herzegovina
60
Bulgaria
51
Croatia
71
Greece
53
Moldova
38
Montenegro
40
Romania
44
Serbia
42
Slovenia
72
FYRO Macedonia
57
REMARKS
ITU Estimation
ITU Estimation
Percentage of individuals using the Internet in SEE end of 2011
ITU, June 2012
Main policy priorities
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SEE statistics – significantly below the
European average
Digital gap and how to overcome it in
the shortest timeframe
Answer: Over satellite
Development of ICT strategy in SEE
One Example: KA-SAT
Enables immediate connectivity
KA-SAT: Europe’s Next Generation
High throughput satellite system
Benefits of Satellite solutions
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Immediate Availability 24/7, everywhere
High QoS and large transfer of data
Economically feasible system
Two-way interactive communication
Instant bridging of the digital gap
Modest tariffication - similar to ADSL
Tooway Equipment
Package Services: Bit rate up to 18
Mb/s
Individual price: 240 €
Regional cooperation - Digital
future
• Intensifying the integration processes
• Priceless influence on the space and
spatial planning
• Network of cities and the research
institutions
• Information and communication linkages
necessity
• Better common life in the region
• Building a communication networks
• Opportunity for knowledge and
experience sharing
Current framework in SEE
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Existence of important Ministerial ICT
decisions and conclusions
A lot of excellent Paperwork was done
Digital Divide and the ICT for SEE
The needs are great GDP is poor
Main obstacles for closing digital ICT gap:
Price of user terminal
Lack of funds for the purchase of
individual equipment.
High time for Action
Europe 2020 implementation
– where are we?
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Europe 2020 strategy for smart,
sustainable and inclusive growth
Urgent implementation of best European
practices and experiences
In accordance with European Directive
COM (2010) 553 Final
„Regional Policy contributions to smart
growth in Europe 2020“
Significant element of cooperation for EU
accession
Advantages and benefits of implementation
for institutions / organizations and for the
business sector
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Citizens
Municipalities and Capital cities
management
Businesspersons
Foresight Stakeholders
Spatial Planers…
Broader and Faster implementation of:
eGovernment, eDemocraty, eLearning,
eHealth, eSecurity…
Actual Status
The main promoters of ICT are:
Regional Cooperation Council RCC in
Sarajevo
 Centre for eGovernance Development
for South East Europe in Ljubljana
 eSEE - bSEE Initiative Working
Group in Zagreb
 SEE ICT Forum in Skopje
 UNDP in Sarajevo
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Bottom-up proposal
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Instant bridging of the digital divide in the
undeveloped SEE region
Satellite as main stream action for SEE
Broadband initiative born under the Digital
Agenda for Europe
Make “every European digital”
Use funds from the current and the future
period (2014–2020)
Good examples:
SEE Europe Aid assistance: DVB-T Switchover
Albania: Internet via satellite for villages and
schools
Montenegro: Internet via satellite for borders
control
Actual Needs and “To Be”
program
Elimination of barrier to implementation
 “Achilles still lives in SEE” - How to speed him up
 Most important role of RCC:
To promote mutual cooperation and integration of SEE
To inspire development in the region to the benefit of
its people.
Strengthening the RCC Strategy and Work Program
2011-2013
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SEE 2020 Vision
 The smart, sustainable and inclusive growth
dimensions
 SEE promoters of ICT should lead private-public
initiative toward the EU
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Public subsidies for user
access
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Subsidizing terminals using available EU
funds to quickly and cost-effectively reach
the 2013 targets of the DA
Potential financing:
Pre-Accession Assistance:
Accessing IPA Cross Border Cooperation
2007 – 2013
7th Framework Program funds
Strategic Conclusions
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Recommendation of the SEEBF for launching of
this initiative
Main task for RCC and CeGC to realize the
initiative
Call of the EC to enlargement countries to align
the reform agenda with Europe 2020
New Europe Aid Project
RCC to assist in developing regional platforms
accordingly
Support of EC - facilitating implementation
Efficient bridging of the transitional period
No time for further delays in development
One of the pillars to anchor reforms and facilitate
EU accession process …
Making Mrs. Neelie Kroes statement feasible
in SEE too:
[…] we cannot forget about social
inclusion. […] the benefits of the Internet
must be spread to include everyone.
Thank you
tihomir@euro-worldnetwork.com