Networked Society

People and Organization (Stage 4)

The Internet is used by approximately one-third of Argentina’s citizens and most citizens are aware of it.  Businesses have increased online advertising revenues by 30% in 2006.  Both of those statistics are expected to increase in 2007^[8].  Internet users average approximately 8.2 hours of usage per week ^[10].  In 2006, there were approximately 1.1 million registered domains, which are approximately 27.5 domains per 1000 people. ^[29]

Argentina is at stage 4 for People and Organizations online.  Most of the Argentinean citizens have heard of the Internet and over 30% of them access the Internet regularly.  There are over 20 domains per 1,000 people and online advertising revenues are increasing.  These are statistics that show Internet usage is popular amongst Argentinean citizens and that local businesses see that there is opportunities available if they use the Internet. 

Locally Relevant Content (Stage 3)

There are many websites available in Argentina. CyberMetrics performed a study on 10 million web pages from Argentina’s domain.  Per their research, CyberMetrics noted the following:

• 48% of the pages were static,
• 76% of the pages were located on servers located in Argentina,
• 30% did not have outbound links,
• 63% of the pages were written in Spanish and 27% in English,
• 72% of the pages had been updated within a year of the study, and
• Most of the sites were retail and auction sites. ^[29]

Argentina has emerged as one of the world’s fastest growing on-line bulletin forum for Spanish users.  Political groups have used this method to communicate or vent their views.  With the help of inexpensive high-speed Internet access, Argentina has been a popular choice over the Spanish-speaking countries to house online group newsletters.  ^[30]

Web-related training is available through numerous online training vendors, such as recent announcement from Microsoft’s commitment within the Latin America for ICT training ^[31].  In addition, a project called the Community Technological Centers (CTCs) was created in the late 1990s to provide technical training for academia.  The CTCs are host institutions which include schools, fire halls, churches, and municipal authorities, in which Argentine can be trained on computers including the Internet. ^[32]  

Argentina is in stage 3 for locally relevant content.  CyberMetrics research stated that there were many pages related to tourism.  Additionally, 63% of the web pages were written in Spanish and 27% in English and over 70% of the pages were updated within the last year, which shows that the pages are written in the two most dominant languages spoken in Argentina and that web pages are updated (or created) regularly.  Many of the pages were not dynamic nor did they contain outbound links, which shows that they are not very sophisticated.  To move into stage 4, Argentina needs to develop more dynamic and locally relevant pages.

ICTs in Everyday Life (Stage 3)

Most individuals in Argentina have mobile phones.  In mid-2006, there were approximately 68 mobile phones per 100 people ^[10].  In 2006, there were 4.1 million fixed lines in service. ^[33]  In 2005, there were approximately 800 mobile and fixed phones per 1000 people. ^[15] 

Access to the Internet is widely available in Argentina, but most of Argentina’s citizens do not access the Internet at home.  Only 19% of Argentine citizens have household computers.    In 2006 approximately one-third of Argentina’s citizens used the Internet, 30% of those that accessed the Internet did so via public access points such as Internet cafes.  Those that do use the Internet, average approximately 8.2 hours per week. ^[10]  Also, 13% of citizens have made online purchases. ^[8]

Argentina is in stage 3 of ICTs in everyday life.  Most citizens have access to phone services and there has been an increasing trend of using mobile phones instead of fixed lines, which shows that more people are becoming comfortable with the use of mobile technology.  Also, Internet usage is increasing annually.  However, to be in stage 4 of ICTs in everyday life there are several things that have to be done.  There has to be more individuals that use the Internet, currently less than half of Argentina’s citizens use the Internet and 13% of citizens completed online purchases. These two statistics should be significantly higher, with most people using the Internet and being comfortable making online purchases.  One of the challenges with encouraging online purchases is that most Argentineans do not have credit cards, therefore businesses in Argentina would have to develop a protocol that allows for purchasing items online or credit card user would have to increase significantly. ^[34]

ICTs in the Workplace (Stage3)

In late 2005, the Argentine government offered small businesses subsidies to purchase IT equipment.  The sales of software and IT services were estimated to have reached $877m in 2005.  The financial sector has been the fastest in promoting ICTs in the workplace.   Since Argentina has recently implemented more IT within the workspaces, the rating for ICTs in the workplace is at a stage 3.  Communication of businesses are primarily made via e-mail, however the use of teleconferences is yet to expand within Argentina. ^[10]

To move into a stage 4, Argentina’s businesses and governments need to not only make technologies available to their employees, but in addition both areas need to be incorporated within core processes.