1. 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

2. 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
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3. 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
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4. 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
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5. 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
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6. 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
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7. 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 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
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8. 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
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9. 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
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10. 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.
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11. 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.
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12. 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.
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13. 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.
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14. 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
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15. 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.
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16. 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
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