From Vision to Reality

Based on a 1996 vision of the information society, the government of Iceland is building the components of an integrated infrastructure to enable e-government and e-commerce. A sound economy, advanced communications facilities, high penetration of computers in businesses, homes and schools as well as openness towards innovation in the general public form an ideal basis for rapid adaptation of government services towards self service, citizen participation and information sharing. This paper tells some success stories and seeks to analyse the key enabling factors.