Estonia: 40% of the street car park payments made via mobile phone in some cities

I wish it would be the same in Paris, I had two fines in the same day in Paris last week, because you have to buy there a street car park paying card available only in certain shops, then get a paper ticket, put it on the car and it is only good for two hours, so if you don't come back, you get a fine. Paying by mobile phone would be really cool.

Micah Sifry pinged me after my speech on the Future of Business in Europe at the WEF, as I quoted some numbers that really impressed me in Estonia.

Here are some hard facts I got from this document on E-Estonia, really interesting.

Ministers peruse draft bills and regulations, make comments and suggestions, and vote entirely online at computer terminals. The system, coupled with the use of digital signatures, eliminates the need to send mountains of papers between ministries for consultation. It gives ministers a possibility to participate in the session from any location. The system, created by Estonian IT companies, saves approximately three million Estonian kroons (192 000 EUR) per year in paper and copying costs.

In the summer of 2001, the Government created a web page Täna Otsustan Mina ("I Decide Today"). Ministries upload all their draft bills and amendments there, allowing people to review, comment on and make proposals on the legislative process as well as propose amendments to existing legislation. Ideas that gain substantial support will be reviewed by competent bodies. Approximately 5% of all ideas are used as amendments to bills.  

In April 2002 the Look @ World Foundation started an ambitious training project – the goal being that by spring 2004, 100,000 Estonians will have been taught basic computer and Internet skills. In October 2003 more than 75 500 people have passed the training. Primary feedback indicated that 59 per cent of the participants have become regular internet users.

Since January 2002, the Citizenship and Migration Board (www.pass.ee) has been issuing a new primary domestic identification document - the ID card. In addition to many advanced security features, the card has a machine-readable code and a microchip containing the visual data on the card and two security certificates (long number series), to verify the individual and supply digital signatures. Possible future uses of the card include integration of ID cards and banking cards and various access cards. By the end of 2003, 350,000 ID-cards were issued.

By 2004, all state and local government agencies should be providing services through the Internet, 60 per cent of the population are everyday Internet users.

People all over the country can access the Internet from over 700 Public Internet Access Points (PIAP), 51 PIAPs per 100 000 people (autumn 2003). The PIAP has a special traffic sign, with the @ symbol, showing its location. Most of PIAPs are located in libraries and other municipal buildings across the country.

A survey conducted in the Autumn of 2003 by TNS EMOR indicated that 47 per cent of the Estonian population aged between 15 and 74 regard themselves as active Internet users. Almost all public employees have computerized workplaces. 38 per cent of the population have computers at home and 71 per cent of home computers are connected to the Internet. Most home Internet users have high-speed Internet connections.

Is Estonia leading the way in E-government ? Ross, may be some thoughts ?