Readiness for the Networked World FRANCE Readiness for the Networked World IS540 Winter - Quarter 2003 Team France Octavia Flowers Savita Gangwani Laura Serna Gracine Wilson

France ICT’s All areas of ICT are dependent upon one another and a strong relationship exists French Embassy, Singapore provides extensive ICT web site Corporations are world leaders because of the anticipation of technological changes, convergence of media, and the development of the Internet French telecommunications market is enterprising and resourceful and is 2nd European market behind Germany, focused mainly on exports Minitel e-commerce exceeded Internet e-commerce until 2001 4/1/2019

Network Access Information Infrastructure Strong and growing technology industry Fifth largest telecommunications industry in the world Telephone networks geared towards a fully digital infrastructure 3 Major Telecom companies Strong government involvement ~ Liberation of the market ~ Public services investments ~ Infrastructure maintenance 4/1/2019

Network Access Internet Availability Growing Internet market; revenue increases of 60% per year 55% of the population connected to the Internet by 2002 FT provides 95% of DSL services for consumers and corporations Increasing availability of public internet access 4/1/2019

Networked Access Internet Affordability Access to Individuals ISPs offer flat fees for unlimited Internet access since 1997 Other pricing options for infrequent and novice users FT offers ISPs the lowest rates in Europe for flat-rate call origination Leased lines are offered at cost-based rates Network Speed & Quality National Telecommunications Research Network(RNRT) Increase in broadband access through cable modems Improved quality of internet backbone routers Fiber optics networks established 4/1/2019

Networked Access Hardware & Software Service & Support Dynamic sectors in French economy Continued investments in software, integration and consulting 62% of the millions of downloaded files are software Service & Support Important source of competitive advantage Increased number of quality of call centers High quality technical support of engineers Growing numbers of web design and hosting services 4/1/2019

Networked Society Late Starters in PC’s and Internet Mostly focused on telecommunications Catching up in ICT since 2000 Digital divide still exists ICT Integration Expanding Free email for teachers and students Free public access in many public places Room for Growth in the WorkPlace Almost all major companies connected to the Internet In 2002, only 56% had websites E-commerce undeveloped on the web, but growing 4/1/2019

Networked Learning Schools Access to ICTs 1981 program implemented to introduce computers to secondary schools and teaching information science to students, considered starting point for integrating schools into Networked World Between 1997 & 2001, the ratio of students to computers were as follows: 12 to 6 High Schools 26 to 14 intermediate school levels 100 to 23 at primary-school level Given the statistics above, over time, the government continues to increase funding 4/1/2019

Networked Learning Enhancing Education with ICTs Teachers and students were trained to use the internet and computers as tools for the students benefit Students seemed to be taught from earliest age possible By 2001 the following had internet connections: 60% primary schools 98% secondary schools 89% colleges Millions of dollars are allocated by the government for IT training, public internet access and R&D projects 4/1/2019

Networked Learning Developing ICT Workforce 96% of small and medium enterprises use PCs 75% are connected to the internet and 40% had websites at the beginning of 2002 Government set up the National Software Technologies Network to support the creation and development of companies in France. 4/1/2019

Networked Economy ICT Employment Opportunities As skilled workers are becoming increasing in demand they are becoming more and more mobile. The demand for relevant, often high-level, skills is growing, there has been a decline in unskilled and semi-skilled entry-level positions. Business to Consumer Electronic Commerce The western European consumer online will be worth US$775 million by the end of this year and will increase to US$8.6 billion by 2003. Report by Data Monitor(NUA, June 1999) shows that Electric Commerce grows rapidly in Western European countries. 4/1/2019

Networked Economy B2B Electronic Commerce In Europe, Visa International found that Germany, the UK, and France will account for more than 80% of the B2B purchase volume in the year 2003. According to Forrester Analyst David Metcalf. “The rapid growth and high volume of Net-based trade in France, Germany, and the UK will pressure proximate countries with deep trading relationships-like Belgium, Austria, and Ireland – to accelerate their migration to the Net.” E-Government France has made great progress in developing e-government services, with 78 percent of state services now online. *Ranking in Online Government 22. 4/1/2019

Networked Policy Telecommunications Regulation ICT Trade Policy France Telecommunications industry is a leader in world markets Mobile Telephone communications have experienced sensational growth. ICT Trade Policy Foreign investment in the ICT sector has no restrictions France ranks among the top five nations in Dot-com Competition, Internet Start-ups, and VC Funding, driving its overall ranking in e-Commerce micro-index to eighth. 4/1/2019

Offshore Opportunities French conducts business in the following countries: China, USA, Canada, and Quebec* Major companies in France to outsource technology functions: Alstom, Energy and Transportation….. EDS (IT infrastructure and applications) Aventis, Outsourced mainframe computers and maintenance support for desktops and servers to IBM The New Power Co Energy Provider….Web Hosting…IBM 4/1/2019

Analysis of Readiness Networked Access falls within stage 4 because of widespread access to telecommunications and networks, affordability, availability of leased lines, network speed, quality and service. Networked Learning falls within stage 4 in all categories with the exception of Enhancing Education; secondary schools and colleges have reached 90% access levels for computer use. Networked Society falls within stage 3 given the need for more integration into society and the workplace. Networked Economy falls within stage 4 because of the high level technical skills amongst employees are growing. Networked Policy falls within stage 4 because of deregulation preventing France Telecom from continuing to be a monopoly and the low fees involved with the trade of ICT goods. 4/1/2019

Recommendations Increase the # of computers in primary schools from 60 to at least 90% Ensure society is more distributed, as of now society is male dominated Build consumer trust Stronger local competition for France Telecom 4/1/2019