Comparative Study of Public e-Service Centres in - ePractice.eu
Comparative Study of Public e-Service Centres in - ePractice.eu
Comparative Study of Public e-Service Centres in - ePractice.eu
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<strong>Service</strong>s <strong>of</strong>fered <strong>in</strong> partnership with other public organisations<br />
PUBLIC E-SERVICE CENTRES IN EUROPE<br />
The Guadal<strong>in</strong>fo portal today <strong>of</strong>fers a number <strong>of</strong> services to its users and the centres have<br />
become an important channel for reach<strong>in</strong>g the populations <strong>in</strong> rural areas and <strong>in</strong> socially<br />
disadvantaged locations by all k<strong>in</strong>ds <strong>of</strong> ICT-related or public sector enabled <strong>in</strong>itiatives<br />
launched by the regional government –many <strong>of</strong> them from the new <strong>in</strong>formation society plan<br />
known as Plan ASI 2007-2010-, but also by the national government.<br />
For <strong>in</strong>stance, the Guadal<strong>in</strong>fo centres have hosted tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g sessions <strong>of</strong> the Movil cerca de ti<br />
(Mobile next to you) campaign, launched <strong>in</strong> 2006 by Consejería de Innovación <strong>in</strong> collaboration<br />
with the regional M<strong>in</strong>istry for Equality and Social well-be<strong>in</strong>g and Vodafone, to teach elderly<br />
people how to make a better use <strong>of</strong> their mobile phones, <strong>in</strong> a friendly learn<strong>in</strong>g environment.<br />
Over 16,000 people <strong>of</strong> 65 years or older were tra<strong>in</strong>ed as part <strong>of</strong> this campaign between 2006<br />
and 2008.<br />
Another example is the collaboration signed between Consejería de Innovación and the<br />
Andalusian Institute for Women to promote the use <strong>of</strong> ICT among women liv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> rural areas,<br />
as well as the network<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> rural women associations operat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Andalusia. Between 2006<br />
and 2007, almost 3,500 women belong<strong>in</strong>g to approximately 200 different associations<br />
attended ICT tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g courses <strong>in</strong> Guadal<strong>in</strong>fo centres and many <strong>of</strong> them have s<strong>in</strong>ce kept <strong>in</strong><br />
touch with one- another thanks to a specific virtual community created <strong>in</strong>side the Guadal<strong>in</strong>fo<br />
portal.<br />
New developments <strong>in</strong> the Andalusian PIAP network<br />
CAPIs <strong>in</strong> deprived urban areas<br />
Hav<strong>in</strong>g completed the establishment <strong>of</strong> the Guadal<strong>in</strong>fo centres <strong>in</strong> the small municipalities a<br />
similar, complementary process was started <strong>in</strong> 2006-07 with the creation <strong>of</strong> CAPIs (Centros<br />
de Acceso <strong>Public</strong>o a Internet, public <strong>in</strong>ternet access po<strong>in</strong>ts <strong>in</strong> English) <strong>in</strong> the disadvantaged<br />
areas <strong>of</strong> the capital city Sevilla and other major urban areas (so called ZNTS, zones need<strong>in</strong>g<br />
social transformation). Beyond provid<strong>in</strong>g ICT access and literacy, the ma<strong>in</strong> goal <strong>of</strong> these CAPI<br />
is to promote social <strong>in</strong>clusion and fight exclusion, given the high concentration <strong>in</strong> these areas<br />
<strong>of</strong> 'at risk' groups such as immigrants, drug addicts and Roma people. For this reason, local<br />
associations work<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the concerned neighbourhoods have been <strong>in</strong>volved both <strong>in</strong> host<strong>in</strong>g<br />
the centres' activities and <strong>in</strong> the selection <strong>of</strong> the d<strong>in</strong>amizadores.<br />
By the end <strong>of</strong> 2008, 42 CAPIs are expected to be up and runn<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> as many disadvantaged<br />
areas across Andalusia; more might be established later on, depend<strong>in</strong>g on perceived needs.<br />
The management and user access systems <strong>of</strong> CAPIs are the same as Guadal<strong>in</strong>fo.<br />
The CAPI <strong>in</strong>itiative is part <strong>of</strong> the Plan ASI 2007-2010 and has been funded with approximately<br />
2.3 MEuro from the national Plan Avanza (60%) and the regional government (40%). The<br />
<strong>in</strong>itiative is jo<strong>in</strong>tly promoted by Consejería de Innovación and the regional M<strong>in</strong>istry for equality<br />
and social well be<strong>in</strong>g (Consejería para la Igualdad y Bienestar Social).<br />
PORTICO<br />
Hav<strong>in</strong>g succeeded <strong>in</strong> help<strong>in</strong>g local users experience the benefits <strong>of</strong> broadband <strong>in</strong>ternet<br />
connectivity <strong>in</strong> the Guadal<strong>in</strong>fo centres, a new <strong>in</strong>itiative has been launched to extend the reach<br />
<strong>of</strong> (mobile) connectivity services beyond the walls <strong>of</strong> the centres themselves, so that people<br />
can experience them also <strong>in</strong> their private life.<br />
Portico's goal is to make broadband mobile services available to at least 80% <strong>of</strong> the<br />
population liv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> all the 637 small municipalities with a Guadal<strong>in</strong>fo centre, at a cost<br />
comparable to that <strong>of</strong> connectivity <strong>in</strong> urban areas (30-35 Euro per month 38 ). A competition to<br />
identify a service provider who could meet such criteria was thus launched <strong>in</strong> 2007 by<br />
Consejería de Innovación and <strong>in</strong> March 2008 Vodafone was selected as the w<strong>in</strong>ner <strong>of</strong> the<br />
contract for the years 2008-2009. The annual value <strong>of</strong> the contract is 15 M<strong>eu</strong>ro.<br />
38 This price is <strong>of</strong> course subject to quantitative limitations on downloads. This was accepted given that the adm<strong>in</strong>istration is<br />
will<strong>in</strong>g to subsidize the cost <strong>of</strong> private connectivity for access<strong>in</strong>g eGovernment and other useful onl<strong>in</strong>e services, but not the free<br />
download/exchange <strong>of</strong> digital content for enterta<strong>in</strong>ment (music, films etc.).<br />
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