The Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade (MIT) has recently announced the Government's future strategy for the development of electronic communications is the next decade.

Entitled 'Digital Czech Republic', this document will lay down the steps for facilitating access to broadband Internet throughout the country. It will furthermore address the topics of digital television broadcasting and spectrum management, and take into account the implementation of the EU telecoms rules into Czech law.

Jan Duben, the head of the Section 'Electronic communications and postal services' of the MIT, presented the main aims of the strategy at the 'Digital Milestones conference' in Prague on 19 January 2010.

"The strategy will expand the coverage of broadband Internet in the Czech Republic. It should also give impetus to the use of services such as eGovernment, eLearning and eHealth services and support the development of digital interactive TV. We want to build it based on the real situation, therefore we are engaging the professionals and the regions in the preparation of the strategy" Duben said.

One of the specific aims of the strategy is to address the issue of the digital divide by proposing a procedure through which the Government could effectively prevent the phenomenon, after having first identified its extent in the country.

Specific proposals will aim to simplify the conditions for investing in the electronic communication infrastructure. The MIT created in this light a special portal where communication companies can coordinate their work on the new or the refurbished networks.

On 11 January 2010, the Government decided to make the Ministry of Industry and Trade the responsible body for the national policy on broadband Internet access, in place of the Interior Ministry.