ESIS extension / Lithuania / www Indicators / Update Report 3

The most significant changes during past three months took place in business, namely in e-commerce. Most companies use WWW sites for presentation and advertising their products and services. A great number of small companies use virtual sites. This service is provided by all Internet service providers and a number of companies are doing business in this area. Local press reports emphasise growing companies and bank investments in WWW development and e-commerce. The legal basis (Laws on electronic documents and e-signature) needed for e-commerce is foreseen in the first quarter of 2000, however the first moves in this direction have already been taken. In the middle of December Omnitel, the leader in mobile communications and an Internet provider, announced the development of an e-commerce site, http://www.muge.lt with an on-line payment possibility using credit cards. The goods are Christmas gifts, music CDs, mobile phones and spares parts. Next year Omnitel is planing a mobile connection to Internet and mobile e-commerce.

A few companies, including "5 kontinentai" company, are developing a Business Information Centre LBIC http://www.lbic.lt. More information can be found at http://www.kompass.lt.

The IT leader Alna announced the Alna Internet Centre for electronic shopping and advertisement service. The specialised WWW site http://www.banner.lt for advertisement was also created by the company 5 kontinentai.

The state financial support was remarkably reduced in the second half 1999 and changes in these sectors were minimal. The new establishment of 5 WWW sites in Lithuanian Universities and high schools was supported by the Lithuanian Soros Foundation (OSF).

State support was very limited and the development of new sites was supported by OSF, other funds, and companies. The development of 6 WWW portals (2 in tourism, 2 in arts and music, 2 in culture heritage sector) was supported by OSF. An interesting joint project by the National Drama Theatre and the company 5 kontinentai is the Internet Cafe, where one can find on-line information on plays, notices, reserve tickets and sell on-line in the future. Other similar ticket reservation systems exist at the National Opera and Ballet Theatre http://www.opera.lt.

The Lithuania Soros Foundation initiated the development of 4 WWW portals in the health care sector. The changes during past three months were minimal in this sector.

	Total number of "population"	Total number of Web sites	% of website / total number of "population"	Source
Primary and secondary schools	1301	114	9%	OSF, Ministry of Science and Education
High schools and universities	16	16	100%	LITNET
National ministries	13	13	100%	Internet, Prime Minister office http://www.lrvk.lt
Regional and local authorities (regions, departments/countries, municipalities)	515*	67	13%	Lithuania Internet, Ministry of Public Administration Reforms and Local Authorities http://www.vrsrm.lt
Hospitals/clinics	190	23	12%	Lithuania Internet, OSF report
Museums	80	38	47,5%	Lithuania Internet, OSF report
Libraries	320	45	14%	Lithuania Internet, OSF report

* 10 districts, 44 regions and 12 city municipalities have WWW sites under PHARE support. Very few local authorities in rural area are presented on Internet only.

Please note that this report has been prepared under the sole responsibility of the ESIS II contractors.
It does not necessarily reflect the views of the Commission, nor does the Commission accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of information contained herein.
The ESIS Team of contractors welcomes any additional information or corrections.