NUMBER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION PORTAL USERS INCREASES EVERY YEAR
28.3.2006
In February of this year, the number of Public Administration Portal users was nearly double that of the same period of time two years ago. During the second month of the year, 220 thousand people visited the portal while the number of viewed pages exceeded 2 700 000. Since the beginning of this year, the system has processed 110 thousand submissions from citizens and entrepreneurs, consisting of over 1.5 million electronic forms. The Public Administration Portal can be accessed at portal.gov.cz.
The so-called transactional part of the Public Administration Portal is what distinguishes the Portal the most from other web sites. 43 929 organisations and firms have registered to submit tax returns, health insurance applications, reports concerning the distribution of goods for Intrastat statistics, or the declarations of self-employed persons to the state electronically. "The benefit of the transactional part lies in the fact that it offers a uniform environment for communication with various authorities. Today there are nearly 200 software firms offering accounting programs with forms that can be sent directly to the Portal," says Informatics Minister Dana Bérová, adding, "Portal users have also shown a great deal of interest in its other services, especially a database containing all laws in their full and up-to-date wordings, military maps, or free courses that teach users how to work with computers and electronic signatures."
Since the Portal's launch, ČESKÝ TELECOM has been the main supplier and integrator of the entire project and provides all electronic services to public administration. ČESKÝ TELECOM CEO Jaime Smith Basterra says, "We are pleased to be a part of this and that the portal project has become an important part of the lives of citizens and entrepreneurs in the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic’s leading telecommunications company ensures the complete exchange of data between citizens, organisations and public administration, as well as mutually between public administration organs."
It is now very simple for users to obtain information about state and public administration authorities and their agendas. These users also have the opportunity to send, for instance, their tax and social insurance forms in electronic format. In the event of any inquiries or requests, they can use a toll-free telephone line on 800 202 122, which is provided by ČESKÝ TELECOM, or they can send email to helpdesk@portal.gov.cz. These services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Physical entities that use the Public Administration Portal can acquire a wide range of information from many spheres, including family, housing, employment, transportation, education, health, the environment, etc. There is also plenty for entrepreneurs. The Public Administration Portal offers them information in the fields of law, subsidies, business, taxation, markets, and much more. The portal offers foreigners general information about the Czech Republic, entrance formalities, conditions for residence, work or study, and a full range of other aspects. Every section is also linked to a directory featuring contact information for all public and state administration organs, refers to legal regulations and offers instructions on how to proceed while resolving Life situation.
At present, one of the most frequently visited sections is the "Life situation" section, where users can find information that will help them while communicating with public administration organs: where and how to convey information, what information to convey, whether administrative or other fees must be paid, which documents are required, etc.
The Public Administration Portal was first introduced in March 2003 in Hradec Králové at the Internet in State Administration and Self-Government Conference. Pilot operation was launched in October or that year at the republic-wide Invex information and communications technology trade fair in Brno. Live operation began a year later, when the Portal received attestation for the congruity of a public administration information system with the ISVS Standard for the requisite life cycle of information systems.
KLÁRA VOLNÁ
Press Spokesperson, IMCR
tel: 221 008 466
fax: 222 715 738
e-mail: klara.volna@micr.cz
MARTIN ŽABKA
Press Spokesman, ČESKÝ TELECOM
Tel: +420 271 463 359
Fax: +420 271 469 896
e-mail: tiskovy.odbor@ct.cz
ČESKÝ TELECOM, a. s., member of the Telefónica Group is the leading telecommunications company in the Czech Republic. Through its subsidiary company Eurotel Praha, spol. s r.o., it also has a significant presence in the Czech mobile services market. Further information about the firm and the services it offers is available at www.telecom.cz, which was rated as BestWeb 2003 in the WebTop100 survey.
Signum Temporis has consistently awarded ČESKÝ TELECOM for being one of the domestic capital market's most transparent firms in terms of providing information. Based on an open vote of specialists, members of the press and a nine-member committee, ČESKÝ TELECOM placed first in 2003, just as it did in 2001.
ČESKÝ TELECOM ranks among the most prominent firms on the Czech capital market in terms of capitalization and trading volumes. Its shares are also traded on the London Stock Exchange in the form of GDRs. ČESKÝ TELECOM's credit rating is the highest a Czech corporation can receive from top international rating agencies.
About Telefónica
Telefónica is one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world in terms of market capitalisation. Its activities are centered mainly on the fixed and mobile telephony businesses with broadband as the key tool for the development of both.
The company has a significant presence in 19 countries and a customer base that amounts more than 180 million accesses around the world. Telefónica has a strong presence in Latin America, where the company focuses an important part of its growth strategy.
Telefónica is a 100% listed company, with more than 1.5 million direct shareholders. Its share capital currently comprises 4,921,130,397 ordinary shares traded on the Spanish Stock Market (Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Valencia) and on those in London, Paris, Frankfurt, Tokyo, New York, Lima, Buenos Aires and São Paulo.
