ZAGREB, Feb 4 (Hina) - In some ten to fifteen days, the Croatian government will consider several draft contracts on the internetisation of the state administration. One of them, concerning the set-up of a computer communication
network for the administration's overall needs, should be concluded with Croatian Telecom (HT), Deputy Premier Goran Granic said Tuesday.
ZAGREB, Feb 4 (Hina) - In some ten to fifteen days, the Croatian
government will consider several draft contracts on the
internetisation of the state administration. One of them,
concerning the set-up of a computer communication network for the
administration's overall needs, should be concluded with Croatian
Telecom (HT), Deputy Premier Goran Granic said Tuesday. #L#
The contract with HT will be signed for a three year period, with the
possibility of a two year extension. HT would commit itself to
invest 76 million kuna (approx. EUR10 million) into the set-up of a
computer network. HT would cover its investment by selling its
services, since the government pays about 140 million kuna for its
services annually.
By signing the contract, the HT would decrease the price of its
services for the state administration by 11 percent, but as its
services will increase, the final amount of money paid is estimated
to remain the same (140 million kuna).
The Office for Internatisation and a commission for
internetisation have been developing the concept for some time now.
The first step in the process will be to establish a computer
network which would connect all bodies of the state administration
and counties, and in the future local units, as well as the
judiciary, health system, etc. They would all develop their systems
based on equal standards.
The concept in preparation envisages that several institutions be
included in the implementation of the project. The Bureau for
Payment Transactions (FINA) would be in charge of coordinating the
conceptual, software section of the project, some of the work would
be carried out by Zagreb's institute for automatic data processing,
which will be transformed into an agency for the development of the
computer system (co-owned by the government and the City of
Zagreb), while HT would be in charge of setting up the computer and
communication network, said Granic.
The announcement on a possible agreement with HT has caused
criticism about alleged "sustaining HT's monopoly". Granic has
refuted such claims, explaining that HT is currently the only fixed
telephone network operator with the necessary infrastructure.
There will be no restrictions in mobile communication and for
Internet providers, he said.
According to information at hand, the state administration
currently uses 40,000 computer terminals. This number is expected
to triple in the next three years, with 80 percent of civil servants
using computer terminals.
Granic believes that the presence of a new fixed telephone operator
would be welcome. He added that now was the time for issuing a public
tender for a third GSM network.
(hina) lml sb