The Digital Agenda for Portugal, published in Diário da República (Official Journal) on 31 December (Resolution of the Council of Ministers no. 112/2012), aims to stimulate the digital economy and the information, communications and electronics technologies sector, through the use and development of tradable and competitive goods and services for international markets.
In line with the priorities set out in the Digital Agenda for Europe and the Europe 2020 Strategy, Portugal's National Agenda envisages strong involvement by civil society and by the private sector, especially in the information and communication technologies (ICT) sector, entailing the launch of a raft of initial measures to be implemented by 2016, in the following six action areas:
- broadband access and access to the digital market;
- investment in research and development (R&D) and innovation;
- improving digital literacy, inclusion and qualification;
- combating tax and contributory fraud and evasion;
- addressing societal challenges;
- entrepreneurship and internationalization of the ICT sector.
The Digital Agenda for Portugal sets out the following objectives:
- promote the development of broadband infrastructure so that citizens have access to broadband speeds of 30 Mbps or more, by 2020;
- promote the development of broadband infrastructure so that 50 per cent of households have access to broadband Internet with speeds of 100 Mbps or more, by 2020;
- create conditions enabling an increase of 50 percent, compared to 2011, in the number of businesses using e-commerce in Portugal by 2016;
- promote the use of online public services, so that they are used by 50 percent of the population, by 2016;
- create conditions enabling a 20 percent increase in ICT exports, in accumulated terms, by 2016, over 2011;
- promote use of new technologies, so that the number of people who have never used the internet can be reduced by 30 percent, by 2016.
Overall coordination and oversight of the Digital Agenda for Portugal falls to the Inter-ministerial Committee, assisted by the Technical Committee of Digital Agenda for Portugal. The Technical Committee, which will include a representative from ANACOM, is also responsible for defining the annual plan for implementation of the Agenda's measures, for securing necessary resources and for timings and for coordinating with bodies of the public administration and private sector organisations.
Consult:
- Resolução do Conselho de Ministros n.º 112/2012, de 31 de dezembro https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=1148247
Further information:
- Agenda Portugal Digital http://www.ei.gov.pt/iniciativas/detalhes.php?id=29
Related information on ANACOM's website:
- Grandes Opções do Plano (Major Planning Options) 2013 https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=1149295
