Methodology
The table below summarizes the assessment of e-readiness in Romania, from perspective of the consultants that, along with the Work Group formed under the Ministry’s supervision, evaluated the results obtained in the last two years (from the previous assessment).
Concerning the progresses made in the IS implementation, the detailed results are presented in Chapters 6 – 11 of this report. The following comments refers only to the obstacles that prevented the achieving of the maximum grade. We mention that some scores also consider the expected short-term effects of the implementation of the legislation adopted during 2002 and 2003, evenhough at present the effects are not yet visible.
Categories 2003 2001**
1. Network Access – Chapter 7
Information infrastructure 3,5 2,5
Internet Availability 3,75 2,5
Internet Affordability 2,75 1,5
Network Speed and Quality 3 2,5
Hardware and Software 3,5 1,5
Service and Support 3,5 2,5
2. Networked Learning – Chapter 9
School’s access to ICTs 3 2,5
Enhancing Education with ICTs 3 2,5
Developing the ICT Workforce 4 4
3. Networked Society – Chapter 8 and 10
People and Organizations Online 3,5 3.5
Locally Relevant Content 4 3
ICTs in everyday Life*** 3,25 2
* Prepared by Harvard CID and presented in Annex 1
** 2001 score determined by UNCTAD/WTO International Trade Centre
*** This score refers mainly to urban regions
Categories 2003 2001**
ICTs in the Workplace* 3,25 3
4. Networked Economy – Chapter 11
ICT Employment Opportunities* 3,25 2,5
B2C Electronic Commerce 3 1
B2B Electronic Commerce 2,5 1
E-Government** 3,5 1
5. Network Policy – Chapter 6
Telecommunications Regulation 3,5 2
ICT Trade Policy 4 3
0 1 2 3 4
Information Infrastructure
Internet Availability
Internet Affordability
Network Speed and Quality
Hardware and Software
Service and Support
School's Access to ICTs
Enhancing Education with ICTs
Developing the ICT Workforce People and Organisations Online Locally relevant digital content
ICTs in Everyday Life ICTs in the Workplace
ICT Employment Opportunities B2C Electronic Commerce
B2B Electronic Commerce E-Government Telecommunications Regulation
ICT Trade Policy
2003 2001
The comparative analysis of the two valuations emphasizes the significant progress of Romania for most of the analysed categories.
The most notable progresses are those of the “Access” and “Society” sections, due to the major improvements in network availability and quality of the services, and to the progress in implementing e-government services, respectively.
* This score does not consider the jobs in agriculture
** This score reflects the existence of websites for the majority of government agencies and the fact that, for part of its procurements, the government employs the “e-procurement” electronic system
We detail below the reasons why the maximum mark could not be achieved in every section analysed.
1. Network Access
Information Infrastructure
The 3.5 mark shows that a considerable part of the community has access to high quality telephony services. The boom of mobile telephony led to an unprecedented growth in the number of communication services users. However, the gap between the urban and the rural areas persists, as the range of communication services is not so complex in the latter areas.
Approximately 96% of the Romanian population has mobile telephony coverage.
Internet Availability
Both individuals and businesses have the opportunity to choose from a relatively large number of ISP’s and technologies. The number of public Internet access points is still relatively low (we are not referring to Internet café’s which are private businesses).
Internet Affordability
Although the access costs are low in comparison with the EU or candidate countries average, the revenues of most of the population are not at a sufficient level as to allow intensive Internet use from home. This is also proven by the structure of the households expenses presented in the Macroeconomics section. However, the situation is expected to change over the next 3 years due to the intensive reforms accelerates as Romania progresses towards EU integration.
Network Quality and Speed
The increase of the fixed telephony digitisation degree, the national extension of fibre optic network, the complete geographical coverage of mobile telephony and the availability of the latest technologies (aspects that are all detailed in the chapter referring to “Access” of the present report), have led to a significant increase in quality and voice and data transmission speed up to the European levels. There are still some deficiencies to deal with, such as the long waiting list and long waiting time, for the setting up of a fixed telephony line, as well as the high number of faults per 100 fixed lines (23).
Hardware and Software
There are no limitations concerning the availability on the Romanian market of the hardware and software solutions. As the market is sufficiently extended, a significant number of equipments and programs are designed with Romanian language interfaces. There is still a problem regarding generalized access of the population to hardware and software products due to financial constratints. This problem will gradually be solved as the average income of the population records an increase.
Service and Support
The quality of IS services is regulated, the maximum period for solving faults being set in accordance with international practices.
2. Networked Learning
School’s access to ICTs
As the process of acquiring hardware and connecting the universities to Internet has accelerated over the last 3 years, the statistics of the Ministry of Education show a relatively satisfactory level of computers penetration and Internet connections as compared to the financial resources of the public budget. IT laboratories, connected to the Internet, are now organized at high-school level. A similar process is also intended for the elementary school, but at a slower pace in the rural areas.However, no secondary and elementary school has two or more independent IT laboratories and broadband connectivity is not yet widespread.
Enhancing education with ICTs
ICT became a compulsory subject for the secondary and tertiary education (high schools, vocational schools and universities). Computers and ICT’s are not fully incorporated in the education process in a generalized way, at national level.
Developing the ICT workforce
The tertiary level prepares a sufficient number of ICT specialists. There are numerous ICT training opportunities available on the market. Also, the civil servants benefit from free IT training. The only problem is the concentration of such specialists in major urban areas.
3. Networked Society
People and organizations online
The last few years have experienced an accelerated increase of the number of web sites with local content. Practically, during 2001 – 2003, their number has doubled, but it has not reached the minimum level of the developed countries (20 sites/1000 inhabitants). The companies that offer electronic commerce do not currently employ traditional mass media as a means of advertising.
Locally relevant content
The boom of the number of sites was accompanied by a significant increase in quality and relevance of the information presented. Public administrations, private businesses as well as non-governmental agencies web sites offer various information, in Romanian language, covering all the aspects of economic and social life.
ICTs in everyday life
Despite the increase in the number of websites and their quality, the limited presence of real e-commerce solutions and of a PIAP network limits the use of ICT in everyday life. The
National Electronic System (the e-government portal) was launched in September 2003 and the effects of its employment will become visible only during 2004.
ICTs in the workplace
Although the number of computers and the degree of Internet penetration among businesses have increased significantly, the computers are still not connected to networks within some businesses and generalized Internet access to all employees is not always available. Statistical information regarding the gains in productivity obtained through the extensive use of ICT is not yet available.
4. Networked Economy
ICT Employment Opportunities
As Romania is still in the process of structural adjustment of the economy and completing the major state-owned companies restructuring, the contribution of industry and agriculture to GDP is still significant. Nevertheless, a significant number jobs require ICT skills and this number is increasing, since adjustments of the economic sectors’ contributions to GDP can be noticed every year. It is noteworthy that civil servants, from both central and local administration, have recently started the process of obtaining the ECDL certificate (European Computer Driving Licence) that became compulsory. When assigning the grade, we have not taken into consideration the quality of the agriculture jobs and their weight in the employed population.
B2C electronic commerce
Although the use of Internet as a marketing channel is quite frequent and has an accelerated dynamics, the classical communication means (telephone, fax, post) are still preponderant in customer care services, whereas Internet Banking, Home Banking and Mobile Banking are used to a considerably smaller extent. The online sales volume is not yet an important component of retail trade.
B2B electronic commerce
The use of this type of commerce is still limited, but the government’s online public procurements system should stimulate its development. The automated inter-bank payment system is about to finish and is expected to give a significant boost to this indicator. Once the computers and Internet penetration among businesses will increase in order to achieve a minimum critical mass necessary to raise the efficiency of the transactions, the results for this indicator (for which relevant statistics are not available) will become significant.
e-Government
This area of the Information Society has achieved a remarkable progress. All governmental agencies have now their own website, certain specific transactions can be concluded online (e.g. local taxes payment, public procurement, international transport authorizations), but the
majority of the services are still rendered through classical means. The public procurements system, available since 2001, will expand at national level by mid 2004.
5. Network Policy
Telecommunications regulation
All EU regulations were assumed. A secondary legislation for the implementation of the Universal Service does not exist, but ANRC is currently (December 2003) drafting this project. Although the full liberalization of the communications market took place at the beginning of 2003, a fierce competition in this field necessitates a certain period of time.
ICT trade policy
The trade policy is harmonized with the present EU regulations.
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