During the last few years, information and communication technologies have very quickly become an important part of modern Belarusian society - being used by companies and individuals as means to get involved in business, research and in the informational and communicational mainstream. According to the results of a 2002 poll conducted by the Institute of Sociology and Social Technologies of the National Academy of Sciences, 40 per cent of Belarus' population was computer literate. More than a quarter (27 per cent) of respondents had access to the Internet.

Rough estimate of the recent period shows that these numbers have increased by far. Although in general Belarusian companies are still slow to see the benefits of the Internet to raise awareness of their business, e-mail and electronic accounting systems are well-established and developing. Websites are used by 29.6 per cent of companies in Belarus, according to a recent survey conducted by the Institute of Privatisation and Management in Minsk, in cooperation with CIPE in Washington. PCs are used by 88.4 per cent of the 378 respondents, and 70.4 per cent of managers have introduced electronic business accounting systems in their enterprises. The survey also reports that electronic documents are used by 40 per cent of the companies, and that 70.4 per cent of managers use the internet and e-mail services.

In Belarus, the extension of fiber optic communication networks totals 4000 km. By 2005, it is expected to spread by 10000 more km. The extension of intercity channels totals 16000 km, with 50% of fiber optic channels. According to the Association of Computer Companies, 7,75,000 PCs were in use in Belarus by the end of 2002. Teledensity in Belarus is the highest among the CIS countries - 28.7 per 100 inhabitants or 73.5 per 100 households. Penetration rate averages 34.6% in urban areas and 18.9% in rural areas. In April 2002, Beltelecom registered 30,00,000 telephone subscribers. It is planned that by 2005 penetration rate of 32.1% will be achieved and 3,60,000 telephone numbers will become digital. At present 28% of automatic telephone exchanges are digital.

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Source: Manufacturer's Association of Information Technology MAIT