The digital inequality in Europe and beyond needs to be broken. This can be achieved by having a universal treaty, a Digital Magna Carta, that lays the basic foundation for the goals that are to be achieved by all countries. However, not all countries has the same maturity level in ICT penetration. Therefore, to study other countries treaties with specific tasks outlined for how to become digital societies is important, both for EU and others. If we all shall enter the digital society upgrades of the ICT infrastructure will be built by the public and private sector and also by the contribution by people. When it concern purchases of personal technology we in EU has to buy this on our own, while in the developing world aid workers could disperse this technology to micro businesses. It is also important to educate people about the benefits of embracing the services a digital society provides which can be done by the public sector and in procurements from companies. Also include individuals who currently work at ICT companies that have an interest to work as spare-time workers. These have the benefit with knowledge about upcoming technology.

1. Jan Softa @ Somerco Date: 2014-11-25
Enhance EU member states competitiveness
Part 27: Digital inequality into a prosperous society
Abstract
The digital inequality in Europe and beyond needs to be broken. This can be achieved by having a universal
treaty, a Digital Magna Carta, that lays the basic foundation for the goals that are to be achieved by all
countries. However, not all countries has the same maturity level in ICT penetration. Therefore, to study
other countries treaties with specific tasks outlined for how to become digital societies is important, both
for EU and others. If we all shall enter the digital society upgrades of the ICT infrastructure will be built by
the public and private sector and also by the contribution by people. When it concern purchases of personal
technology we in EU has to buy this on our own, while in the developing world aid workers could disperse
this technology to micro businesses. It is also important to educate people about the benefits of embracing
the services a digital society provides which can be done by the public sector and in procurements from
companies. Also include individuals who currently work at ICT companies that have an interest to work as
spare-time workers. These have the benefit with knowledge about upcoming technology.
Background
Helping geniuses! Our slogan sums up whom Somerco aims to help. Somerco are a
company that target to help researchers and innovators so that these geniuses can create
prosperity and jobs in society. In this paper, I discuss how the digital inequality in Europe
and beyond needs to be broken in order to increase the living standard of people. To
achieve this, individuals and companies need access to contemporary and upcoming
digital technology. Therefore, those who provide ICT infrastructure need to offer a
modern and high capacity network in order to meet such a demand. Another factor to
consider is to increase the knowledge level about digital services.
Introduction
We find people and companies in Europe and abroad without daily access to Internet.
Reasons for this are lack off or an insufficient standard of ICT infrastructure, no access to
personal digital technology and an insufficient knowledge level in the services that
software can bring to ease life. Cloud services are a technical solution that will become
increasingly important to use when we narrow the digital gap between people and
between countries.
The probability
As it is today, there is no legal right for people to have water and food every day in all
countries. Governments in countries have different possibilities to guarantee it as a right
to its inhabitants. Therefore, large international organizations as UNs World Food
Programme and other as OXFAM focus on contribute to this basic need.1 Besides
providing for these basic needs, other measures are necessary for the long-term in order
to enable people to provide for themselves and for companies to create jobs. Here
communication technology has an important function to fill. It concerns large ICT
infrastructure all the way to personal communication technology as smart phones. In
some parts of the world it will be easier than in others to move society from digital
1 Later, I will discuss the value of aid organizations for the development of a digital society in the
developing world.

2. Jan Softa @ Somerco Date: 2014-11-25
inequality into a prosperous society. Europe is better off than many other parts of the
world that have more challenges to face. Therefore, each region needs a roadmap that fits
their need.
Roadmap
Even if the road maps for different regions are different there are some common concerns
that are very similar for all. What would help is commitments in treaty’s that lay the basic
foundation, what current and upcoming technology that can be used to make this shift
and how to increase the knowledge level among people of the benefits with a digital
society.
Roadmap – treaty
On a global level, a Digital Magna Carta,2 as proposed by Tim Berners-Lee, points to the
necessity for a road map that directs all countries into a society that gives its inhabitants
access to ICT services while having privacy rights. Whether a global Digital Magna Carta
is adopted, many countries will not follow all steps in the digital evolution that we and
other countries as US, Japan, and South Korea have experienced. Instead, they should
take giant leaps forward into similar technology as is planned in EU, Japan, South Korea ,
US and so on.
Since some countries lag behind in implementing rules and regulations for the digital
society it is appealing with a universal Digital Magna Carta that point out the goals and
that lays the basic foundation for a well-functioning digital society. Similar basic
foundation enables companies from all countries to access digital markets on fair grounds
and provide all inhabitants a possibility to reap the rewards it brings. All participant
countries will with such an international treaty have an equal map of destination. Besides
this, it will be necessary for countries or clusters of countries to create road maps with
specific tasks that fits them and that should be reached for a particular year.
As we can see by EUs Digital Agenda a cluster of countries has decided to co-operate. It
has adopted seven pillars to increase the digital penetration in society. Of these, I focus
on the necessity that is found in pillar IV: Fast and ultra-fast Internet access, pillar VI:
Enhancing digital literacy, skills and inclusion and pillar VII: ICT-enabled benefits for
EU society.3
More recently a common Digital Single Market is on the policy agenda of EU.4 These
measures have the possibility to jump the EU countries forward into a digital society that
uses much of the latest digital technology in society. Other European nations are
interested to join and reap the rewards of a Digital Single Market in EU and at those
countries that join. It is an important development for EU.
2 A digital Magna Carta – is Tim Berners-Lee on the right track?
http://www.computerweekly.com/opinion/A-digital-Magna-Carta-is-Tim-Berners-Lee-on-the-right-track
3 Digital Agenda Scoreboard. http://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/digital-agenda-scoreboard
4 Mission Letter. Andrus Ansip. Vice-President for the Digital Single Market. P. 3-5.
http://ec.europa.eu/about/juncker-commission/docs/ansip_en.pdf

3. Jan Softa @ Somerco Date: 2014-11-25
Still, we can learn from a few others of the necessity in having a futuristic road map with
goals that are possible to achieve in five year periods. It is fair to claim that the countries
in EU are not in the absolute forefront as digital societies and has to catch-up to states as
Japan and South Korea.5 In those two countries, plenty of services based on ICT
technology are provided by commercial companies and government to its inhabitants.
I have chosen to focus on the South Korean government’s road map to move the country
from an Information Korea into a Cyber Korea and then a Smart Korea and into its
current goal a Giga Korea.6 The countries in EU have not all the same level of digital
maturity. If we would use the categorisation South Korea has used in its transition from
an Information society towards a Giga society, we find some European countries rapidly
entering the cyber society while others are moving towards a smart society. If we were to
be in the absolute forefront as digital countries some EU countries need to take a larger
jump forward than the others. Therefore, it is beneficial for EU to cooperate with South
Korea and Japan in order to learn from their experiences how treaties can pinpoint tasks
that enable technology that is in the forefront to be implemented in the European society.7
If we look outside EU and use India as an example when it concern ICT penetration, 87%
of its inhabitants has access to mobile network coverage, but only 32% out of its
population are unique mobile subscribers.8 And in 2013, 16,8% was owners of smart
phones in India.9 Furthermore, the mobile network in India is not 5G that in South Korea
soon will replace 4G networks or being planned for in EU.10 It means they are further
away from a smart society than EU and a Giga society as South Korea is entering.
Besides India, there are many examples of countries that are even further behind in its
development into a contemporary digital society.
For countries outside EU, as India and those further behind them, it would be beneficial if
they discuss with the governmental sector in South Korea and Japan how their treaties
helped them create a road map that turned them into leaders in the digital society. Also
EU has lessons to learn out when it concern moving society into a digital society. There
5 EU-Japan … A story of cooperation. http://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/news/eu-japan-
%E2%80%A6-story-cooperation and Korea Policy Review.
http://www.eurocpr.org/data/2013/Park_Korea.pdf
6 The phases of Korea is used to pinpoint where countries are in their digital development: Information
Korea equals to fixed telephone penetration and information infrastructure established, Cyber equals to
broadband fixed Internet penetration, mobile telephone, WIBRO, HSDPA and DMB, Smart Korea
equals to Broadcast & Communication Convergence and Smartphone and Giga Korea equals to
Integrated ICT policy based on C-P-N-D.
7 Landmark agreement between the European Commission and South Korea on 5G mobile technology.
https://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/news/landmark-agreement-between-european-commission-and-south-
korea-5g-mobile-technology
8 Infographic: Defining mobile penetration in India: population, subscribers and connections.
https://gsmaintelligence.com/analysis/2014/04/infographic-defining-mobile-penetration-in-india-population-
subscribers-and-connections/428/
9 List of countries by smartphone penetration.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_smartphone_penetration
10 India may witness 4G boom by 2017. http://www.cxotoday.com/story/india-may-witness-4g-boom-by-
2017 & List of countries by 4G LTE penetration.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_4G_LTE_penetration

4. Jan Softa @ Somerco Date: 2014-11-25
lays an opportunity for those helping other countries develop their treaties with
knowledge transfer.
I believe, for the benefit of EU, it would be great if much effort was put into discuss the
development of international treaties with countries in Europe and beyond. Especially,
the developing world is important. Share of experience and knowledge in these matters
often also turn into increased trade and social exchange. The quicker these treaties are in
place the quicker it will benefit all inhabitants in these countries. While discussions are
held with countries outside EU include also industry associations, old and new innovative
companies that have knowledge of upcoming digital technology and services, which will
help other countries pinpoint specific tasks that will be necessary for them to take in
order to take a giant leap forward.
In EUs Digital Agenda EU have pinpointed tasks in seven different pillars. The
knowledge about these tasks should be exported to other parts of the world. If we look
into three of these we find described specific tasks:
 Pillar IV: Fast and ultra-fast Internet access.
New services such as high definition television or video conferencing need much
faster internet access than generally available in Europe. To match world leaders
like South Korea and Japan, Europe needs download rates of 30 Mbps for all of
its citizens and at least 50% of European households subscribing to internet
connections above 100 Mbps by 2020. The Digital Agenda aims to turn this
ambition into reality by stimulating investments and proposing a comprehensive
radio spectrum plan.11
 Pillar VI: Enhancing digital literacy, skills and inclusion.
Over 50% of Europeans use the internet daily – but 30% have never used it at all!
Moreover, disabled persons face particular difficulties in benefiting fully from
new electronic content and services. As ever more daily tasks are carried out
online, everyone needs enhanced digital skills to participate fully in society. The
Digital Agenda tackles the digital divide.12
 Pillar VII: ICT-enabled benefits for EU society.
Digital technologies have enormous potential to benefit our everyday lives and
tackle social challenges. The Digital Agenda focuses on ICTs capability to reduce
energy consumption, support ageing citizens' lives, revolutionises health services
and deliver better public services. ICTs can also drive forward the digitisation of
Europe's cultural heritage providing online access for all.13
Road map – access to technology
11 Pillar IV: Fast and ultra-fast Internet access. http://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/our-goals/pillar-iv-fast-
and-ultra-fast-internet-access
12 Pillar VI: Enhancing digital literacy, skills and inclusion. http://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/our-goals/
pillar-vi-enhancing-digital-literacy-skills-and-inclusion
13 Pillar VII: ICT-enabled benefits for EU society. http://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/our-goals/pillar-vii-
ict-enabled-benefits-eu-society

5. Jan Softa @ Somerco Date: 2014-11-25
When it concern access to future communication technology in Europe and North
America competition between companies and the governmental sector will push private
companies to upgrade the ICT infrastructure.
To acknowledge that the private sector builds and funds ICT infrastructures by
themselves is important. It happens more often in highly populated areas where more
profit can be found sooner. To not have some parts of the country lag behind too much
the public sector contributes with funding and let the private sector builds the
infrastructure. It is often called Private – Public Partnership (PPP). Sometimes the public
sector is national agencies and at other times it is EU who provide for funding. In one of
EUs funding programmes, Horizon2020; EU is taking a huge effort to fund the spread of
new communication technologies in order to upgrade the countries digital performance.14
The ICT infrastructure focus is on broadband penetration, faster Internet connection and
so on.
Besides, national and international funding of large-scale ICT infrastructure there are
options to build up the locally developed ICT infrastructure. It can be achieved by three
options. There is the traditional private-public partnership where the owner of the
digital/ICT infrastructure is in private hands. The second - in return for visible exposure a
company fund the infrastructure. The last option is to use crowd funding platforms where
the contributors hold shares for future profit of traffic in ICT infrastructure. Also the
Public sector and People can decide to use crowd funding to pay for building and
maintaining lesser expensive ICT infrastructure as free wifi in their village or borough.15
The people in EU and North America need themselves buy the personal technology, as
PCs and smart phones, in order to be able to reap the rewards from the services the digital
society provides. When it concern to make personal communication technology
accessible to people also in the developing world there will be a difference between them
and us.
I suggest that in parts of the developing world, those with lowest income will be helped
by aid organisations to get access to personal communication technology. Due to its vast
commitment aid workers could disperse this technology to micro businesses. The
increased profit the access to this technology brings can be used for purchases of more
communication technology for their business. It is also more likely that the business
owners can make purchases of communication technology to other family members.
Roadmap – increased knowledge
Peoples ability to learn is not much different from one place to another. It means similar
ways to teach people about new digital services can be adopted everywhere. Those who
have great benefit of digital services and those who are tech savvy will increase their
knowledge level without persuasion. There will also be those people who do not
prioritize to learn about the benefits with the latest digital services. To get everyone on
14 Information & Communication Technologies in Horizon 2020. http://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/
en/information-communication-technologies-horizon-2020
15 I call the third option for Public-, Private-, People - Partnerships (PP(P)P).

6. Jan Softa @ Somerco Date: 2014-11-25
board on this journey towards a contemporary digital society is the largest hurdle. I will
say it is necessary to accept that some adopt new technology and services sooner than
others. However, it should not be due to that people cannot get access to the services in a
digital society. It outlines two challenges that need to be addressed. It is to enable
technology access to all and figure out how not just tech savvy people can adopt digital
services fairly quickly.
If all people are to adopt digital services fairly quickly several measures will be
necessary. Education is an important cornerstone and I point to three options that can be
used. Education courses about the benefits of adopting the services the digital society can
offer can be provided by the public sector entirely and/or bought as a service from private
companies.
Also consider to sponsor spare-time workers who currently work in ICT companies to
teach people who need it. These people have up to date knowledge about the latest
technology and software. Perhaps these individuals could be a part of the efforts the
public sector provides.
In EU, both EU and national governments will need to provide funding for education in
order to increase the knowledge level of digital services. In the developing world, it
would benefit if aid organisations had this opportunity. These do then need to know what
digital services that are offered where they are located. So it is clever to educate these aid
workers first and then let them spread the knowledge about digital services.
Also private companies need to consider how to increase the knowledge level of services
in a digital society. Therefore, to build their software as easy-to-use as possible is
important. Those companies who understand this are future winners since they will get a
larger customer base.

7. Jan Softa @ Somerco Date: 2014-11-25
Draft proposals
Enhance the competitiveness of EU member states Part 1 – Designated tax to science
Enhance the competitiveness of EU member states Part 2 – Strategy to support the software industry
Enhance the competitiveness of EU member states Part 3 – Actions to support women in ICT
Enhance the competitiveness of EU member states Part 4 – Going abroad–Competitive assets
Enhance the competitiveness of EU member states Part 5 – Business incubators, financial recycling and
incentives into reward
Enhance the competitiveness of EU member states Part 6 – Standardization as a tool to increase
competitiveness
Enhance the competitiveness of EU member states Part 7 – Different types of innovations
Enhance the competitiveness of EU member states Part 8 – Open source from science to society
Enhance the competitiveness of EU member states Part 9 – Crowd sourcing and crowd funding
Enhance the competitiveness of EU member states Part 10 – Green VAT for business
Enhance the competitiveness of EU member states Part 11 – Keep talent in Europe
Enhance the competitiveness of EU member states Part 12 – Research leftovers
Enhance the competitiveness of EU member states Part 13 – Science Parks - Specializations
Enhance the competitiveness of EU member states Part 14 – Patent trolls
Enhance the competitiveness of EU member states Part 15 – Science e - Parks
Enhance the competitiveness of EU member states Part 16 – Expansion options
Enhance the competitiveness of EU member states Part 17 – The locally developed infrastructure
Enhance the competitiveness of EU member states Part 18 – Treaty (Knowledge transfer)
Enhance the competitiveness of EU member states Part 19 – Different types of infrastructure
Enhance the competitiveness of EU member states Part 20 – Build infrastructure (In progress)
Enhance the competitiveness of EU member states Part 21 – Energy infrastructure (elsewhere) (In progress)
Enhance the competitiveness of EU member states Part 22 – Quick market entry (Medical)
Enhance the competitiveness of EU member states Part 23 – Innovation, Commercialization, Growth
Enhance the competitiveness of EU member states Part 24 – External energy dependencies
Enhance the competitiveness of EU member states Part 25 – Old innovations
Enhance the competitiveness of EU member states Part 26 – The non-IP Parks
Enhance the competitiveness of EU member states Part 27 – Digital inequality into prosperous society
Enhance the competitiveness of EU member states Part 28 – Digital Magna Carta – exemptions in privacy
(In progress)
Enhance the competitiveness of EU member states Part 29 – The networked subsidiarity (In progress)
Enhance the competitiveness of EU member states Overview – Old and new key areas in order to increase
the competitiveness of the industry (In progress)
Input on threats against information society