Overview July 1999: Tunisia

1. Ministries and Governmental Organisations

The Ministry of Communications regulates the telecommunications sector in Tunisia, Mr. Ahmed Friaa is the Minister of Communications and Mr. Noureddine Boudriga is Advisor to the Minister of communications. The Director of Informatics (DoI) in the Ministry of Interior is Mr. Mohamed Amous, the Director of Informatics in the Ministry of Commerce is Mrs. Monia Khiari and for the Ministry of Industry, Mr. Zoubeir Belhadj Fradj is the DoI. Mr. Abdelaziz Kharraz is the DoI for the Ministry of Higher Education. The Secretary of State for Scientific Research and Technology is Mr. Mohamed Ben Ahmed. Mr.Montassar Waili is the Secretariat of the State for Informatics (SEI).

2. Telecommunication Operators

The PTO and sole supplier of basic telecommunications services is the National Telecommunications Office (ONT), also called Tunisie Telecom where the General Director is Mr. Ahmed Mahjoub. The importance of the telecommunications network for socio-economic development is recognized by the government. It has charged the PTO with developing an advanced and pervasive network and also given it a wide range of public responsibilities, such as to contribute to the development of scientific research in the area of telecommunications. Tunisie Telecom has been expanding the telecommunications network in the rural eastern half of the country and has been upgrading existing switches and exchanges.

3. Internet Providers

Following a presidential initiative, the Tunisian Internet Agency (ATI, www.ati.tn) was created to promote Internet services in Tunisia. Its President and General Director is Mrs. Khedija Gueryani and Mr. Kamel Saadaoui is the Techical Director. ATI took over operation of Tunisia's national Internet backbone and the .tn top-level domain from the Institute of Scientific Research in Informatics and Telecommunications (IRSIT). The public ISPs in Tunisia are: Tunisie Telecom, IRESA , IRSIT, the Center of Calcul Khawarezmi (CCK), the National Bourguiba Institute of Microinformatics (INBMI) where the Head is Mr. Adel Gaaloul, the Public Health Ministry Informatics Center (CIMSP) where the General Director is Mr. Abdelmajid Miled. There are two private ISPs providing private sector and personal access: Planet Tunisie (www.planet.tn) and 3S Global Net (www.gnet.tn).

4. Universities and Research Institutes

• The National Center of Informatics (CNI) and the Superior Institute of Documentation, (ISD) are two establishments that play an important role for the development of Information Society in Tunisia. CNI was created in 1975 as a National Center referring to the Prime Minister. It is responsible for: advising National Departments on Information Technologies, developing software projects on demand of the National Departments, central and local administrations, and public enterprises. Although it is mainly dedicated to administrative data processing, this facility is also available to public administrations and enterprises, providing hardware and software maintenance service to National Departments and other public users and training the personnel of National Departments and other public authorities. The National Departments and the central administration rely almost exclusively on CNI for support and expertise in information technology and computing. Mr. Mongi Miled is the General Director for CNI, the Director for Cooperation is Mrs. Rakia Baccouche and the Administrative Director is Mrs. Ben Mustapha. The Head for ISD is Mrs. Henda Ben Ghezala.

• Institute of Scientific Research in Informatics and Telecommunications (IRSIT) was set up in 1987 and performs R&D in three major areas:

• (a) Telecommunications and Networks (Interconnection of networks, Telematics, Multimedia, Space Technology)
• (b) Decision Support Systems (GIS and resource management decision support systems, Decision Support for industry)
• (c) Arabisation and Man-Machine Communication (automatic translation of documents, natural language translation, word synthesis)

• IRSIT (www.irsit.rnrt.tn) is also the national focal point for the regional arab network RAITNET assisted by the Center of Arab League. IRSIT's key persons are: Mr. Salah Ben Abdallah (President and General Director), Mr. Hatem Mallouche (International Cooperations), Mr. Nejib Abida (IT Project Manager) and Mr. Mourad Zouari (RNRT Project Manager). RNRT is a national network for research and technology.

5. Network Operators

In Tunisia, the following networks operate:

• The Secretariat of the State for Scientific Research and Technology (SERST) with the technical assistance of IRSIT, have installed the National Network of Research and Technology (RNRT) which permitted a better planning and coordination of research activities. Within this national network, twenty-two centers have been interconnected having Internet access. SERST plays the central role in this initiative. The SERST Director is Mr. Rifaat Chaabouni which is also the coordinator of EC Projects for the Tunisian government, Mrs. Belkhouja is responsible for International Affairs.

• The National Network of Agricultural Research (IRESANET) has been installed, interconnecting different centers of research and universities that belong in the Ministry of Agriculture.

• The Network of Durable Development (RDD) has been installed in the framework of the Program for Durable Development of the United Nations Organization.