Macedonia: NGOs call on government to end useless free internet programmes

The NGO, Internet Makedonija, demands that the Government of Macedonia terminate the ?Free Internet? programme and to secure, instead of the points for free internet access in the libraries in several towns, WiFi access points in public institutions with great frequency of citizens, especially student dormitories and university campuses.

“The Free Internet Programme is useless, ultimately unsustainable and has no other value apart from the propaganda” says Aleksandar Dimitrievic from Internet Makedonija, adding that the programme is not likely to improve the internet penetration in the country.

Internet Makedonija presented the latest statistical data on internet penetration in Macedonia, prepared by the National Statistics Office and EuroStat. According to the data, the country is at the regional average in terms of regular internet users with 26 percent of the population (one half of EU?s 51%) and the percentage of households with internet access (17 percent, compared to 54 in EU).

According to Internet Makedonija, those figures are due to weak competition and expensive services offered on the market, in spite of the improved infrastructure for public internet access.

On the other hand, Internet Makedonija is concerned over the number of households connected to broadband internet. Just seven percent of the household use some type of broadband internet, well within the regional average, but just one sixth of the average in EU (42%).

“This should be a reason for great concern, knowing that fast internet is key factor for the development of information society?, says Aleksandar Nikolov from IM and adds that the country could help the development of market competition if it uses the optical cable networks operated by Macedonian Railways and MEPSO (power transmission system operator), to connect Macedonia with the neighbouring countries, effectively helping the other providers to escape their dependent on Macedonian Telecommunications company.

More info:
http://internetmk.blog.com.mk/