Conclusion

Network Access:

Hungary internet infrastructure has shown significant penetration however internet penetration has shown slow growth in underdeveloped settlements. The country needs to provide a greater push to further develop its modest consumer and business infrastructure and drive growth in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) usage and skills.


Network Learning:

Hungary entered the Age of Digital Teaching Aids with a national learning content management software project launched in 2003. It makes high quality digital teaching aids freely available for both students and teachers. This digital knowledge base covers all of the secondary schools using multimedia and interactive tools in all areas of learning. The Hungarian Schoolnet is currently developing high quality digital teaching materials available for students, teachers and parents through this searchable Internet database. All the secondary school, students in Hungary will be able to reach digital content from most of their curriculum.


Network Society:

Internet and PC usage in Hungary is still growing. An increasing amount of people are gaining access to vocational and elementary computer skills. Mobile markets, however, are exceedingly prevelant in Hungary. Almost 90% own a cell phone of some kind and the use of the internet will eventually catch up to this standard. The discrepency in the use of the internet is due to the ability to pay for the telecom tariffs and the lack of ability in using the PCs. Users generally do not use the internet for shopping or banking, so businesses will have a hard time entering into those markets in Hungary. The general public generally uses the computers and internet for emailing, gaming, and viewing newspapers and magazines. Only a restricted amount of local content is available with government and company websites, but this number is increasing as the generally public gains access to the internet. Only 10% of the population in Hungary has a internet subscription, due to its high cost, but almost 60% have access to the internet at some place. These numbers will only grow in Hungary and a smart business would be able to capitalize on an area of growth that is seen with this flux.


Network Economy:

Hungary is increasingly becoming an ICT player and an attractive place for multinationals to do e-business. Currently it is the 46th most networked economy and its Global Competitiveness Index is 58th. Despite these rankings, with infrastructure development and growing Internet and mobile subscriptions among citizens make Hungary an attractive ICT economy for the future. Because of innovative government partnerships, Hungary has been able to attract respectable multinationals, most of them setting up offices around Budapest. In addition to Budapest, countryside towns are beginning to attract companies because of their high-skilled and low-cost labor. The Hungarian workforce has strong history in mathematics and engineering as well as an appealing command of European languages. While not entirely there today, Hungary is being supported by e-government initiatives, growing confidence in both B2C and B2B e-commerce, and an optimistic outlook of off-shoring, which all contribute to Hungary supporting a competitive 21st century Networked Economy.


Network Policy:

The Nemzeti Hírközlési Hatóság or NHH, controls most of the telecommunications policy regulations. It is responsible for regulating the operators and registering and licensing them for the consumers. The NHH does not regulate the mainstream telecommunications, that is held to the European Union. Hungary follows the plan that the European Union sets out for its member countries. The citizens of these countries should be able to live in an information society without any disruptions. Information society as listed in the Network Society, shows that living within the freedom of information era involves less regulation of telecommunications and more flexibility in competition for the consumer to get the best price as well. The internet should be affordable and the regulations that the European Union sets out helps in making sure that is a reality for Hungarian citizens and businesses. The European Union is the regulations standard for Hungry in the trade policies as well. The Hungarians do have certain restrictions on trade, as with non-tariff barriers for market entry, but they do allow the freedom of information, which helps in the software and hardware sectors to allow for more business to be created within Hungary. Since Hungary is on the EU standard, this helps them in bceoming a more viable player in the global market. If a company is able to avoid the non-tariff barriers, then the regulations otherwise
are easy for a company for make a market entry. The regulations of Hungary allow a company to thrive as they would in most other countries within the EU.

Overall:

Hungary is strengthening its infrastructure, policies and commitment towards ICT. The government is increasingly trying to attract foreign companies to do e-business in Hungary, while developing its workforce to be more competitive across all levels. Currently Hungary lags behind most of Europe as a ‘networked country’. This is attributed to a well developed and supportive Budapest, but staggering infrastructure in cities elsewhere in Hungary. Despite this, the government has created nice tax incentives for companies, one of the cheapest in Europe, and created National Interest strategies to increase ICT competitiveness. Also, because of Hungarian labour costs, ICT skills and language knowledge (Hungarians understand German and “small” European languages); as well a strategically positioned geographic location, Hungary has uniquely anchored themselves for a positive future. Internet and mobile activity is growing at a yearly rate. E-commerce is still in its infancy, therefore business and consumer confidence will only improve as people develop more trust with the Internet. With entry into the European Union and its domestic ICT strategies, Hungary has an overall optimistic future that could propel them to be a key contributor in Europe and the rest of the World.