Top > Economic Affairs > The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) > ASEM Seminar on the Digital Opportunity > Session 4: Policy Environment and the Role of Government > The Importance of International Coordination (Presentation)

Presentation
The Importance of International Coordination

Mr. Emmanuel Caquot
Director, Service for Information Society and Technologies, France

The Internet is global and universal, but due to history, France has some specific characteristics that should be highlighted. Due to the success of Minitel for more than 20 years, the French people have become accustomed to the habit of using online services. Due to geographical constraints, France is also very aware of the need to develop nationwide solutions for communications, and universal service is a very important concept in France, which has been implemented efficiently even after the deregulation of the telecommunications industry.

The political importance of IT appeared some time ago, and in France, the commitment of the prime minister was helpful in the development of IT policies. The French government is also active in its efforts to fulfill the commitments of the e-Europe Initiative.

Regarding contributions to developing countries, France has utilized various funds to introduce IT in line with four broad objectives:

  • to help define a stable regulatory framework compatible with local economic development,
  • to develop education and training,
  • to assure a global connectivity, and
  • to help local content creation.

The development of the Internet worldwide is the result of various initiatives and there is a strong demand for further development, both in the public and private sectors. It seems to be well assumed that the Internet provides a free space for creativity and connectivity, and that private initiative is very important for its development, but nevertheless, international cooperation is called to address the following issues:

  • A regulatory environment
  • The use of scarce resources
  • Security and confidence
  • Funding issues
  • Access and infrastructure
  • Human capital and knowledge
  • Technological choices

France considers international cooperation necessary to define a reference framework, which allows for rapid implementation of an appropriate regulatory environment compatible with the laws in various countries. Security and confidence are also key for the broadest possible development of the Internet.

Funding issues are also a key to bridging the digital divide because of the changes that the Internet has introduced in various domains. Discussions must take place at the international level to identify all existing resources, including private investment in the developing countries, in order to create synergies between them, and to encourage mechanisms to support innovation through venture capital and business creation.

In terms of technological choices, the pace of development is currently outstripping the speed of governmental action, which, by nature, is too slow to be truly efficient in this context. Technology neutrality however, appears to be adequate at the present time and international cooperation has to focus on the adaptation of technologies to local conditions.

Connectivity is another very important issue. As has often been mentioned, prohibitive costs of telecommunications for long-distance and international links are creating barriers to bridging the digital divide. In this context, international cooperation could focus on a kind of "universal access" to everybody at affordable costs. Interregional institutional programs could be quite efficiently used to improve this connectivity.

After some observation of a phenomenon that is so rich in opportunities and risks, collective action at an international level is required to identify, create and make the most efficient use of the international bodies in charge of these questions.

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