OECD Peer Review of E-Government in Denmark - ePractice.eu

- Social: society’s ability to utilize information technology as measured by levels of education, civil liberties, and
government corruption.
Denmark received high scores in a number of variables across all four pillars and placed first ahead of Sweden,
the United States, Switzerland, Canada, the Netherlands, Finland, Korea, Norway, and the United Kingdom.
Source: Economist Intelligence Unit “e-Readiness Ranking” (2005) and IDC Information Society Index (2005).
ICT usage
Denmark is among the top 10 ICT-using nations in the world, with a first-class
telecommunications infrastructure. In October 2004 broadband (ADSL) network coverage reached
95% of potential subscribers and by mid-2004 mobile phone penetration had reached 95.5%.
According to figures from the European Commission published in February 2004, Denmark has more
broadband computer connections than any other EU country, with 11.2% of the population using a
broadband subscription by the end of 2003.
Figure 3.4 Penetration of fast access connections, October 2003
Source: Statistics Denmark (2004e), Key Figures on Information Society Denmark 2004.
Danes have rapidly adopted ICT, as indicated by high Internet and PC penetration rates. In 2004
80% of the Danish population had a PC at home and 75% had Internet access at home (of which 99%
connected via a PC, 18% via a mobile phone and 4% via a handheld computer). There was no access
via digital television. In terms of the type of Internet connection used, 33% connected via a dial-up
modem, 48% via broadband (XDSL and other forms), 8% via ISDN, and 22% used other forms of
connection including cable modems, broadband connections via building networks and wireless
connections (see charts in the Annex to this chapter).
Use of ICT by Danish businesses is also high. In 2004, 98% used PCs, 97% had Internet access
(with 68% using ADSL and 8% using wireless connections), 81% had their own Web sites, and 57%
sent and 27% received orders via the Internet. Many businesses, and a large number of individuals,
used the Internet to communicate with public authorities. In 2003, 43% of individuals and 84% of
businesses with access to the Internet used it to find information, download forms and submit
information to government organisations through government Web sites. Among both the public and
businesses the highest use of e-government was for searching for information – the least sophisticated
opportunity provided by e-government.
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