This week’s #time4estonia will be taken over by all things digital and we are about to enter
DIGITAALNE (in short, DIGI) EESTI = digital Estonia
Did you know that already in 1996 Estonia introduced an educational programme making computer literacy training and internet access possible to all Estonian schools? The aim of a project called ’Tiigrihüpe’ or ’Tiger Leap’ was to heavily invest in development and expansion of computer and network infrastructure, with a particular emphasis on education.
Today, Estonia has become synonymous with digital society, the e-Estonia. However, it was never a specific plan but rather grew out of the needs for the country to find its own way after regaining independence in 1991, and the Estonian population had a burning desire to catch up with the West.
Strong cooperation between the public sector and private companies was instrumental in helping to bring internet and digital services closer to citizens. As banks understood that strong digital ID will help to create better internet banking, and telecommunication companies realised that digital public services also need better access to internet, they were easily convinced to work together with the government for the benefit of all Estonians.
To find out if the digital services have benefited people living in Estonia, have a look at what some non-Estonians think of this.
#time4estonia is Mon – Fri 4pm Estonian Embassy in London Facebook series where you can discover Estonian artists, writers, musicians, architecture, cities, museums, galleries, nature etc. We will give you a hint of Estonian language (eesti keel [ˈeːsti ˈkeːl]), our humour and Estonian spirit.
