There is currently a gradual shift from
an economy of material goods to an economy of intangible assets and
relationships, especially for services. This transition, combined
with the knowledge society, plays a key role in a country's readiness
to absorb technology.
Innovative use of modern technologies
in developed countries has become an integral part of their future
development strategies, and has the same importance as the efficiency
of financial markets, the investment environment, and the quality of
public administration and its services. Electronic communication
networks and services play an important role in the fundamental
conditions for the economic, social and cultural progression of
society in all developed countries. In particular, they accelerate,
expand and improve communications, which promotes the development of
society as a whole in accordance with the requirements of citizens,
businesses and state institutions.
Effective use of
information and communication technologies (ICT) increases
productivity and competitiveness, whilst also leading to significant
cost savings and other positive effects, such as transferring labour
to activities with higher added value in fields where ICT has been
comprehensively implemented. A significant factor of the ICT sector
is that its development is closely tied to the needs of society, and
quickly responds to them. This is due to the fact that they provide
the communication and computing infrastructure for most activities
taking place in the country, and simultaneously provide tools for
increased efficiency, innovation and competitiveness in virtually all
sectors of the economy. ICT plays a significant role in the internal
processes and innovation activities in all sectors, contributing to,
for example, a 36% increase in efficiency in the chemical industry,
76% in transport and logistics, 59% in the engineering industry and
86% in the automobile industry. The Czech government appreciates the
importance of electronic communications and has already approved a
national policy – Digital Czech Republic.
By making use of accessible – that
is, affordable and geographically available – electronic
communication services, interested parties can be provided with
access to relevant information very quickly and cheaply. Therefore,
electronic communication plays an important part in the everyday life
of society. In conjunction with the other technologies and services
used in the information society, electronic communication has an
ever-increasing role in the standard of living of the population, in
improving the business environment, in the development of
international commerce, in education, and in cultural and social
development.
Without doubt, today's developed
European society considers that quality internet access is not a
privilege to be enjoyed by only the population in urban areas.
Therefore, efforts are being made to provide internet access to all
parts of the population, for whom high-speed internet access may, in
view of the environment in which they live, be in relative terms an
even greater benefit than for people in urban areas. The solution for
the disparities between cities and rural communities as regards the
conditions for the use of ICT is to ensure comparable accessibility
to electronic communication services, and in particular to services
provided by means of high-speed internet access. This is also a basic
prerequisite for overcoming the so-called 'digital divide' between
urban populations and those of rural communities. This divide
generally arises due to a lack of opportunities for high-speed
internet connection and the impossibility of using the services
provided through it. Therefore, the basic objective is to reduce this
divide between rural communities and cities.
(Source: Public Sector News)
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