Overview July 1999: Estonia

1. Introduction

The following overview and relevant database compiled under initiative ESIS II cover organisations:

• that have responded to the questionnaire disseminated under ESIS II with the purpose to map information society projects under implementation or planned. Also related persons and organisations are covered;
• that have been mentioned in the Project ESIS II reports.

2. Organisations involved

For better overview organisations are divided into three categories: private sector, public sector and the third sector.

2.1. The private sector

In the private sector, the companies which have the greatest influence on the developments of the information society are the telecommunications operators, out of which one company (AS Eesti Telefon) has monopoly rights on the basic services market and three companies (AS Eesti Mobile Telephone Ltd, Radiolinja Eesti and Ritabell) compete on a mobile phone market.

Active competitors on the paging communications market are two (AS Baltcom Eesti and Eesti Kaugotsingu AS) out of three companies who have the licence to operate in the market.

The main Internet service providers are Estonian Telephone Company, AS Esdata (Estnet), Data Telecom (Eunet Eesti), Unineti Andmeside AS, AS Microlink OnLine and AS Infonet. There are tens of smaller service providers.

Through alternative communications networks, telecommunications services could be provided also by railway company AS Eesti Raudtee, gas company AS Eesti Gaas and energy company AS Eesti Energia. Water company AS Eesti Veevärk does not have internal communications networks.

There are also several cable TV service providers, which having a capability to provide telecommunication services have an important role in shaping the Estonian information society. The most important of them are Levicom Broadband, AS Tallinna Kaabeltelevisioon, Levi Kaabel, Starman Kaabeltelevisiooni AS, AS STV Kaabeltelevisioon, AS Telset, K-Võrgud, RHR Group and Antenna3.

In developing new technologies, one of the most successful fields is cryptography, where the main organisation is AS Küberneetika. Several information society projects are also being taken up by AS Aprote, a company made up of system analysts. First major steps have also been taken in the field of electronic commerce (by Index Net OÜ for example)

Several research companies (BMF Gallup Media, Meediamaa) are active in gathering and processing information concerning the information society and have become important sources of information for planning future developments in both public and private sector.

2.2. The public sector

In the public sector, the most important organisations shaping the Estonian telecommunications market are the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Estonian National Communications Board and Estonian Competition Board.

The main Internet service provider for scientific and educational sector is EENet, which manages the largest data communications network in Estonia. The main service provider for state and local institutions is the Department of the State Information Systems of the State Chancellery (ASO). For some user groups such as the police and the security police, telecommunication services are provided by Valitsusside.

The general developments in the field of informatics for Estonian governmental institutions are shaped by Estonian Informatics Council, which is an advisory committee of the Government of the Republic. The Department of State Information Systems of the State Chancellery is an institution which analyses the status of state information systems, drafts development strategies, manages budgeting issues, creates gives expertise of legal acts on, etc.

Estonian Informatics Centre is an institution managed by the State Chancellery which acts as an implementing body in general co-ordination of state information policy and public sector IT development.

Inspection of Data Protection is an agency responsible for monitoring compliance of processing personal data and database management with the requirements provided by law.

Also, all the ministries are involved in the developments of the information society (for example the Ministry of Education through the Tiger Leap Foundation)

An important role is played by the universities (University of Tartu, Tallinn Technical University) and science institutions (Institute of Cybernetics) in shaping the information society.

2.3. NGO's and associations

Extremely important is the role of the third sector in raising the awareness of people in matters concerning the information society and in supporting the implementation of numerous projects.

The most important organisation in this field is the Open Estonia Foundation, which is a non-governmental organisation founded by an American philanthropist and businessman George Soros in 1990. The main focus of the organisation is on developing education culture and civil society. The foundation has financially supported several information society projects and thus acquired an important role in supporting the information society developments.

The United Nations Development Programme has also been an important shaper of the information society by supporting the creation of Public Internet Access Points and initiating several important surveys.

Different professional associations such as Estonian Computer Association and Estonian Information Technology Association have organised promotional activities to raise the awareness of people and supported the corresponding developments in both the private and public sector.

The Estonian Foundation for European Union Education and Research Programmes "Archimedes" was established by the Estonian Government in April 1997 for the co-ordination and implementation of various EU programmes and initiatives in the field of research and education. Its activities also include activities related to the developments of information society.

Institute of Baltic Studies plans, supports and implements innovative information sharing projects mainly in the public sector. One of their fields of work is distance education via modern info and communications technology.

The Union of Estonian Cities is a voluntary union of local governments, objective of which is to represent the common interests, managing co-operation, development of socio-economic and cultural activities and increasing the knowledge base of local governments. It also supports the development of information systems.