Information technology is developing faster and faster. People are finding new opportunities to make their life easier and more comfortable. This amazing evolution was continuous in most countries but not in Poland and other countries of Eastern Union under Soviet influence. Just try to imagine a society absolutely isolated by government. All media was under state control. Any personal contact with foreigners was almost impossible. In addition to that, propaganda was a normal part of politics. The most interesting was the economic system especially in view of the average person. Empty shops became the symbol of communism in Poland. People were waiting for ten hours or longer in queue just to come in to a shop where they were told, “We just have vinegar, matches and vodka. Next delivery will be in one week. What do you want?” To buy some mechanical or electrical item like a car or a radio one needed personal relations with manager of the shop or with some politician or loads of patience. You had money but you could not spend it.
It was 1989 when Poland became totally independent. The economy collapsed and Poland became a Republic of Nothing. Poles were watching national television risking explosion of legendary soviet TV while few kilometers farther, in Western Europe using computers, internet and mobile phones was already a normal activity for people. High Technology had become a normal part of every day’s life. This great void between levels of economical attractiveness and technology had to be filled by appropriate actions of national institutions like Ministry of Education and many others especially some NGOs.
In 1994 Poland organized its First Congress of Polish Computer Science. Level of computerization was critical. Most of companies and national institutions still didn’t have any connect with computer technology. In addition Polish schools and universities were not able to educate young people in the use of IT. Poland had 40 million citizens but produced only a few hundred graduates in Computer Science every year. Worse was the situation of the graduates educated in 70s and 80s disappearing from universities because of possibility of higher compensation in private sector and emigration. During this period economically my country was like a “wild free market”. Competition between companies in many fields was based on price pressure. First acquisitions of traditionally Polish enterprises were perceived as selling of national property for nothing. But these actions opened access of Poland to newer technologies. Polish market of technology was mainly based on import of goods from developed countries which destroyed most of Polish tech companies. Access to IT products and services became easier with every passing year but level of prices remained as one of the problems. In the beginning, internet available for masses was very expensive. The revolution in the market was a product offered by TP (monopolist in IT and telecommunication sector) called “Neostrada”. Their customers could use unlimited internet after paying a fixed monthly fee.
We can say that development of Poland in context of IT and telecommunication started to be visible in 2004. Poland became a member of European Union and started to be obligated to fulfill requirements created by this organization. According to Lisbon Agenda we had to create a framework for implementation of high technology and facilitating access to information for all citizens and organizations. One of the landmark national actions was creating a “Strategy of Computerization of Republic of Poland called as e-Polska”. In this document Ministry of Science and Computerization focused on three main objectives of modernization. First of them was to provide an access to broadband internet (as well as other IT solutions) for all citizens and organizations. Second was creating an education system to facilitate use of these tools. The last aim was to create rich offer of digital service through internet.
In the beginning of this action Poland showed really poor position in all rankings of modernity. For example in 2002 just 30% of Poles had access to home phones and just 36% to mobile phones. At the same time western countries like Czech Republic and Hungary, the level stood at 60-90%. Access to internet in Poland was available to only 26% of population. By 2004 Poland became much more developed and 74% had home phones and 55% had mobile phones. In 2010 Poland has 38 million citizens and already 45 million are mobile phone users. The policy was successful in providing internet connection as well. In 7 years the percentage of houses equipped with broadband internet access increased from 26 to 51%. We are still one of the least developed among the European countries but the distance is reducing continuously.
Government started purchasing computers to help educate students at school. The objective was to schools provide one computer for maximum number of 2 students for computer classes. Our government launched obligatory computer science lessons at all levels of education. That was usually our first contact with high end technology for most of the students. Next step in modernization of schools was facilitating access to internet resources. Now 15 years later almost all schools have access to broadband internet. Interactive classes with computers and e-learning is increasingly becoming more and more popular. Computer Science is gaining ground as one of the most popular branches of science for higher studies as well. Poland supports new students with high scholarships in this area. In addition, business has no problems in absorbing graduates in IT in spite of increasing number of students of computer science. These facts motivate young people to become specialists in the field of IT.
Poland’s economy is characterized by competitive wage rates and well-educated manpower. Accessibility to network on 90% of the territorial area and 75% of population till 2013 is one of the priorities in infrastructure domain. One of the projects linked with increasing competitiveness of Poland is the creation of an e-department. All national services are obligated to exist on the internet. That is why creating of databases and sites including important universal information for customer is being encouraged. This program also includes the possibility of sending important documents by internet. In Poland specialists noticed a new social problem called “Digital Exclusion”. That is one of the most dangerous problems for modern society. The problem touches especially people from villages where access to information is more expensive and salaries are lower. Such a situation breaks the rule of providing equal opportunities for all citizens. Till 2020 Poland wants to implement e-Democracy program. It would mean voting by internet and filling all formalities linked with economic and political life of each person and organization through the internet. Poland is trying to support local initiatives related to implementation of information technology in small villages as well as in metropolis.
Another existing project with high importance to information technology is ‘Friendly Country’. This project assumes that facilitating formalities is the easiest way of increasing entrepreneurial capacities of its citizens. Authors of this project envisage the possibility of sending tax settlements and VAT invoices by internet and create ‘One Window System’ (all formalities in one office) in establishment of new enterprises. E-PUAP (E-Platform of Services of Public Administration), also called ‘Polish Gate’ is another of the government projects. The most important services under these 29 planned services list are divided into two groups: Services for Citizens and Services for Enterprises. In the first group we will have a possibility to send tax settlement, arrange meeting with doctors, vote, borrow books from a library, look for a job, apply to universities, control affairs linked with individual and social assurance, etc. For companies, the country offers access to official statistics, possibility of sending data to customs office, taking part in public auctions, paying for assurance of company and employees, sending tax settlement etc. Government estimates that this IT revolution will increase efficiency up to 150% of actual level. In addition by 2013 all public organizations have to have websites available in Polish and at least one additional official language of EU.
Internet related crimes have become a reality along with all the benefits espoused by IT. These crimes can touch every citizen or company individually but can be dangerous for the whole country. Polish Police created a special department dedicated to fighting electronic crimes and providing safe internet. Through this department the police continuously monitor internet, and search for threats such as phishing, pedophilia or illegal trade (human trafficking, drugs dealing, weapon trade etc). The same section is responsible for safety of financial operations made by using internet and credit cards. After conflicts erupted between Estonia and Russia and Georgia and Russia using cyber attack on national institutions, Poland started a public debate on national security. Effect of this debate was creating special department in army consisting of hackers and specialists in system security to defend the most important institutions against individual or mass attack.
Last twenty years for my country has been a period of amazing change. Statistically we are still not considered a leader in technological development but our progress seems to be fine. From absolutely isolation, we became a country where most citizens have easy access to information from all around the world. We became a member of EU. We now dream of becoming a country with extremely high levels of modernity and providing good life for all citizens by leveraging all opportunities provided by IT in the 21st century.{t}
Marcin, from Poland and as an Erasmus student in IECS Strasbourg, realised that his major career goals are to work in a multinational company as a logistics specialist or project planner. He wants to practice multitasking by simultaneously working and studying together. He is a sports enthusiast, specially enjoying mountain biking and swimming. Travelling, partying and watching movies are a few more of his interests.
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