Introduction History Role of the Tunisian Internet Agency (ATI) Internet Access in Tunisia Internet Community in Tunisia Boosting Internet in Tunisia National Networks The Publinet Project Electronic Commerce in Tunisia Future Prospects

Introduction The information highway is seen by President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali as one of the main roads that could lead Tunisia's economy to greater efficiency and better prepare the country's children to meet tomorrow's challenges. President Ben Ali, a strong believer in the advantages offered by new information technologies, announced in November of 1997 plans to connect all the country's schools and public libraries to the Internet. He also wants Tunisia's business community to aggressively seek the benefits of electronic commerce. The development strategy for Internet in Tunisia progresses along three main lines: Developing and modernizing the infrastructure. Setting up a suitable platform for organization and regulation. Developing training, subcontracting and mastering of technology. An overall approach to information technologies aims at giving the largest possible number of people access to modern means of telecommunication. This is done through reductions in phone and Internet access rates, promotion of the usage of Internet among the families and the opening of public web access. A vast action program, launched in 1997, aims at the gradual connection to the Internet of all university and research institutions, the majority of secondary and primary schools as well as public libraries before the end of 2000. Other programs intended at the public at large include the opening of public Internet access centers (called Publinets) all over the country as well as encouraging private initiative in investing in the new information technologies. These programs should allow greater access to the Internet as well as its availability in all parts of the country. These and other programs should enable Tunisia in few years' time to enter the ranks of those countries with high rates of Internet usage.