The only way for Hungary to stay on the sustainable growth path attained by serious efforts is by establishing itself in the digital age. Within the framework of the programme Digital Hungary, the Government is therefore to implement, with market players and institutions involved, info-communication development on an unexampled scale, covering the whole country – Minister of National Development Miklós Seszták announced at one of the first stations of the initiative in Nyíregyháza on 19 March, 2015.
The mission of Digital Hungary is to ensure as a result of coordinated government development programmes a more balanced development of the Hungarian ICT sector, making it possible for info-communication tools and services to stimulate competitiveness, sustainable economic growth, employment and societal equal opportunities. As priority objectives, the access of citizens and enterprises to electronic services should grow and qualitatively improve and the rate of using these services should increase. Digital Hungary includes all ICT developments to be implemented from EU and national funds by 2020 and is at the same time open for other partners, companies and institutions in addition to government organs to join the series of development programmes as active participants.
One of the comprehensive sub-programmes of Digital Hungary is to start in Nyíregyháza; funded from public finances, digital developments worth HUF 1.7 bn are to be implemented at the county seat in 2015. This year, intelligent city services will be introduced, the IT and infrastructure systems of educational institutions will be developed and IT facilities will be granted to 6000 local residents. An adult education programme teaching practical IT skills will be provided to those in need of it and disadvantaged students will be offered catch-up trainings. As a result of the developments in Nyíregyháza, the range of e-administration services for the population is to further grow and three new government windows with up-to-date ICT facilities are to open. As part of the sub-programme, a multifunctional city card is to be introduced and systems enhancing security in public areas are to be established. One of the government’s partners, Hungarian Telekom is to implement network development at its own expenses, which will bring high quality cable broadband to over 7,000 households and by the end of 2015, every household in the city will have access to 30 Mbps Internet services. In addition, the company is to continue constructing the high-speed 4G/LTE mobile network in Nyíregyháza and surroundings and is also to go on with its educational programme Telekom Smart Digital, within the framework of which almost 3,000 students in the city have been taught about the safe and conscious use of the Internet in the past two years.
In his address Miklós Seszták emphasised: “In every age of history, technology has been the shaping force and engine of societal and economic changes. Today, info-communication is not only the totality of technological developments but also a basic requirement in all fields of life. For Hungary’s competitiveness it is thus of vital importance that the country should be in the forefront in the world of ICT as well.” The Minister of Development added: “The ICT investments launched now and in the years to come constitute developments in the volume of hundreds of billion forints for Hungary.”
Mayor of Nyíregyháza City with County Rights Ferenc Kovács pointed out in relation to the Nyíregyháza sub-programme: “It is a special honour for us to have a pioneering role in the milestone effort whereby Digital Hungary will be established. Being native to Nyíregyháza, we have made efforts in the past, too, for the city to have a flagship position in renewal. After the modernisation of schools and student hostels, the infrastructure and tourism developments, the refurbishments in the city centre and the significant investments affecting the local economy, the time has now come for all the citizens in the Nyíregyháza District to enter the digital age and benefit from its advantages.”
Chief Executive Officer of Hungarian Telekom Christopher Mattheisen said: “Nyíregyháza is the first city where the digital infrastructure, the services built upon it and the competences required for their use will be developed concurrently. I have the pleasure to report that our cable network construction will continue with the construction stage in March, while within the framework of our Smart Digital Programme we have started organising free courses teaching practical proficiency in Nyíregyháza and its region to enable both students and adults to safely and consciously use the facilities and surfaces of the digital world. I do trust that the developments and initiatives now launched will be beneficial to all the people and local enterprises in Nyíregyháza, through which we will be able to contribute to the realisation of the vision of the Digital Hungary.”