3 - Strategic Objectives and Quantitative Targets
3- Maintaining a legislative environment
conducive to ICT sector growth and investment
2- Internet-related issues, information exchange
and access, and freedom of expression
The strategy involves the amendment of a
number of existing laws. The Telecommunications
Law No. 10 of 2003, for example, contains
certain articles that require amendment in
line with Egypt’s democratic transition that
will promote political openness and protect
freedom of expression. Additionally, a number
of new laws and regulations will be prepared,
drafted and activated covering areas including
freedom of information, cybersecurity and
e-commerce. There are also plans to develop
labor laws related to working at home and parttime and temporary employment for university
students, which will increase the number of
people working in outsourcing.
The strategy focuses on various internet-related
issues, including the right of citizens to unrestricted
communication, an open internet, strong social
networks, internet privacy, public radio frequencies,
public websites, public digital services, freedom of
movement and association in cyberspace, freedom
of expression, unrestricted access to information,
the right of education and access to information
technology that could be used indiscriminately and
protection of intellectual property.
Second: Promoting digital citizenship and
information society
1- Using ICTs to empower the elderly
and people with disabilities, and serve
marginalized and remote communities
This will be achieved through developing
mail services, introducing new services that
contribute to solving community problems,
raising the proportion of households with
personal computers to 40%, and providing a
national network of 1,000 Technology Homes
and 2,000 IT Clubs. These services give priority
to people with disabilities, including those
who sustained serious injuries during the 25
January Revolution. Programs have also been
established to raise the ICT skill levels of
women, particularly those who act as the sole
breadwinners of their households.
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3- Developing people’s ability to communicate
and connect with their environment
This will be achieved using information
and communication cables and networks
to guarantee citizens their right to personal
communication and participation, open access
to means of communication and unrestricted
access to information.
4- Developing network security systems
The strategy includes development of network
security systems, to support the banking sector
and online payment systems in particular. The
increased use of online payment systems will
promote development of the banking system
and raise its efficiency.
5- Online safety and privacy
Successful promotion of online safety requires
cooperation between concerned government
authorities, the private sector and civil society
focusing on raising public awareness and
empowerment. The aim is to enable people to
protect themselves and their children online,
particularly on social networks, and in their use
of mobile phones.
Third: Promoting sustainable development
1- Improving basic services in the fields of
education, healthcare, environment and
ensuring the delivery of subsidy to people
who deserve it
The success of initiatives targeting integrated
development depends largely on the
availability of easy-to-access high-quality basic
services and the readiness of local communities
to evaluate and guarantee the quality of these
services. In this context, the following three
basic targets have been identified:
Poverty reduction and the raising of living
standards in identified local communities
through empowerment, facilitating market
access, improving education and training
services, and developing basic infrastructure
networks
,
Ensuring local communities ownership of the
services received through their involvement
in evaluating the quality of these services
Building a relationship of trust between the
government and local communities. Indeed,
the improvement of the quality and scope
of basic services reflects the government’s
commitment to respect, meet and safeguard
,
citizens rights and to save natural resources
in the interest of future generations
In support of these objectives, the strategy
aims to support and develop the key sectors
of education and healthcare through the use
of ICTs. In education, this includes the use
of computers and high-speed internet in
educational institutions across the country
and the development of ICT-based education
programs and materials, especially for
university students. This will allow Egyptian
graduates to compete in the global market and
enable Egypt to produce and develop ICT tools
and software to international standards.
In healthcare, the strategy targets improvement
of services, particularly for marginalized and
remote communities, as well as improving
support systems, enhancing management
and use of state resources, and reducing
expenditure. In this context, the development
of ICT infrastructure for government bodies
that supports digital identity systems will
provide citizens with more secure, better and
faster services and support the transition to a
knowledge-based society.
The strategy also aims to promote the
development of mobile services, expansion
of mobile coverage in underserved areas,
adherence to global standards in environmental
and health protection related to mobile
stations, development of mobile internet
access services, use of geo data bases and
similar systems, and use of ICTs to monitor and
facilitate adaptation to climate change.
2- Using ICTs to develop legislative, judicial
and executive institutions
The integration of ICTs will raise the efficiency of
state institutions, developing their performance,
increasing productivity, improving response
time, facilitating community participation and
boosting transparency. These efforts include
measures to promote the use of e-signature
applications by government institutions and to
,
develop key sectors through ICTs integration,
including industry, commerce, transport, justice
and tourism. Development of the legislative
structure is essential to maintain an environment
conducive to the further spread of ICT use.