The widespread uptake of new technologies, facilitated by the
national roll-out of high-speed Internet access, will put new
demands on the democratic process, the president of Iceland has
said.
Speaking at the start of a trade mission of Icelandic technology
companies to the UK earlier this month, Olafur Ragnar Grímsson,
president of Iceland, said broadband Internet services, which
provide high-speed, permanent Internet access, had been widely
available there for a number of years.
"There's a tendency to think the 21st century is about the
economics of the metropolis. But it's only by providing everybody
with the possibility [of Internet access] that we can truly have a
productive society," he said.
"The Icelandic vision is to make this available to everybody as
fast as possible," Grímsson added.
His comments come just weeks after a report was published by the
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, showing
that the UK ranked 23rd out of 30 in terms of broadband
penetration.
The report says that the UK has fewer broadband lines per 100
inhabitants than Iceland, which casts serious doubt on its aim of
becoming the most extensive and competitive broadband market of the
G7 nations by 2005.
The widespread adoption of Internet technologies would put new
demands on the democratic process and create a big challenge for
governments worldwide, added Grímsson.
The Icelandic government, however, did not have any fixed targets
for putting government services online, he added.
Hazel Ward
hazel.ward@rbi.co.uk