During the last 2 decades, the Internet and computer technology sector in Tunisia witnessed swift and profound changes thus boosting technological, commercial and organizational sectors. This is what allowed it to become a major pillar in the economic activity by putting modern mechanisms at the disposal of a better competitiveness, attraction of investments and intensification of commercial exchanges, as well as exports within an international economy marked by openness and competition.
The telecommunications sector has been enriched since the Change of 1987 with several achievements whose impact exceeded what has been expected during the last three decades.
Point 5 of Tunisian President Ben Ali’s Program for 'Tomorrow’s Tunisia', entitled “A propitious ground for the building of a knowledge-based economy”
As regards ICT infrastructure, Tunisia has established a fully digitalized (since 1999) fixed telecommunications network, with a telephone density (fixed and mobile) amounting to 90.37 lines per 100 inhabitants in 2008, against 3 lines per 100 inhabitants in 1987.
The major achievements in this field are the following:
• The number of telephone subscribers at the end of June 2008 reached:
– 1,25 million for land line phones
– 8,12 millions for mobile phones
• Reinforcement of telephone density through several technologies: 90,9% at the end of June 2008 compared to 3% before the Change.
• Finalizing the total digitization of telephone networks since 1999.
• Development and modernization of internet and data transmission structured national network.
• Reinforcement of the rural telephone network using fixed, radio (WLL) and mobile (Mobirif) technologies.
• Development of international telecommunications and reinforcement of the connecting of Tunisia to international networks.
• Development of the telecommunications infrastructure on the national and regional level to guarantee connection to research centers, universities, secondary schools, colleges, and primary schools in order to offer a larger capacity for the fluidity of internet network and data exchange.
• Reinforcement of the commercial network and increased proximity of customer services.
• Implementation of several projects to guarantee a high speed through ADSL and designing a plan to extend progressively this system to all regions and decreasing subscription fees for families, private customers and companies.
• Setting up an appropriate legal and regulation framework to strengthen the contribution of the private sector in the setting up and operation of networks, guarantee connection services and promote investments in the highly value added services mainly through:
– Promulgation in 2001 of the new code of communications.
– Assigning the concession to establish and operate a second mobile phone network in virtue of the Decree 2002-1079.
– Assigning the concession to establish and operate a public satellite communication network V-SAT in virtue of the Decree 2004-978.
– Modification of the legal statute of the National Office of Communications into a Limited Liability Company in virtue of the Law 2004-30.
– Opening up 35% of the capital of Tunisie Telecom to a strategic partner.
Development strategy of this sector hinges on the following axes:
• Reinforcement and modernization of the postal network and its various urban, rural and itinerant components.
• Development of the Rapid-post and postal packet network on the national and international level.
• Establishment of the Virtual Post Agency.
• Implementation of the virtual post insuring electronic management of mails of several companies (invoices, statements,…).
• Establishment of 1828 call centers to deal with clients’ requests and manage their complaints.
• Reinforcement of automatic cash dispensers’ network reaching 89 units in 2008.
• Rapid-post network was awarded the ISO 9001 for quality.
• Enhanced diversification of the provided services to customers by implementing the first line life insurance postal service “Post assurance”, an electronic system connected to university services “e-bourse” and an SMS system “mPoste” for the customers of Rapid-post.
• Bringing into operation a digital mail system dubbed “hybrid mail” enabling the companies to receive mail from a distance through the electronic platform of the Tunisian post. 19,5 millions of electronic missives of this kind have been dealt with and sent to their receivers in 2007.
• Development of “Rapid-post Business” insuring a global specialized set of services to economic companies and investors such as customs clearance service.
• Development of the urgent telegram system “Webtelegram” enabling a rapid delivery within 24 hours of telegrams issued by banks or other administrations. One million telegrams have been treated in 2007.
• Development of the distant training system “Trainpost” that comes under the International Postal Union and hosted by the electronic server of the Tunisian Post Virtual School.
Tunisia witnessed quick developments at the level of legislations, organization and structuring of computer technology and internet as well as at the level of technological progress.
As an implementation of the permanent attention paid by the Tunisian President to allow all social categories accessing digital technology and to prepare new generations to information society and knowledge, regional centers for computer technology for children have been established as well as computer technology centers specially for disabled children and women.
Similarly, the presidential program to promote the “Family computer” allowed average revenue families to acquire a personal computer financed by loans granted at preferential rates by the Tunisian Solidarity Bank. As from the beginning of the program and until the month of June 2008, 65,000 personal computers have been purchased .
The United Nations e-Government Survey 2010 Special Award
The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) publish the UN e-Government Survey every two years.
The UN e- Government Survey serves as a tool for decision-makers to identify their areas of strength and challenges. This year’s winners embody the vision and commitment necessary to transform public administration to place the citizen at the center of the development of e-services and e-content delivery.
The top performing country for each region is awarded:
- Tunisia (Africa region): The African region consisted of Central, Eastern, North, Southern and Western Africa.
- United States (Americas region): The Americas region consisted of Central, North and South America and the Caribbean.
- Republic of Korea (Asia region): The Asian region consisted of Central, Eastern, Southern, South-Eastern and Western Asia.
- United Kingdom (Europe region): The European region consisted of Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Europe.
- Australia (Oceania region): The Oceania region consisted of Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
