BASIC FACTS: 01. november 2002 • 41 per cent of the population are regular Internet users (EMOR, summer 2002) • 30 per cent of the population have a computer at home, 59 per cent of home computers are connected to the Internet • All Estonian schools are connected to the Internet • There are about 500 Public Internet Access Points in Estonia, 36 per 100,000 people (one of the highest numbers in Europe) • Incomes can be declared to the Tax Board via Internet • Expenditures made in the state budget can be followed on the Internet in real-time • The Government has changed cabinet meetings to paperless sessions using a web-based document system • 40 per cent of Estonian residents conduct their everyday banking via the Internet • 61 per cent of the population are mobile phone subscribers • All of Estonia is covered by digital mobile phone networks All Estonian schools are connected to the Internet, this the result of the state-run Tiger Leap programme, implemented in the years 1997-1999. Thanks to Tiger Leap, school children are above-average users of the Internet. People all over the country can access the Internet from about 500 Public Internet Access Points (PIAP). A PIAP has a special traffic sign showing its location with the @ symbol. Most PIAPs are located in libraries (288). There were 36 PIAPs per 100,000 people as of June 2002. One can easily locate the nearest PIAP at www.regio.delfi.ee/ipunktid. About 60 public locations (city squares, hotels, pubs, airports etc.) are currently covered with high-speed wireless Internet access. More information: www.wifi.ee. According to the RIPE Network Coordination Centre, Estonia maintains the highest Internet connected hosts / population ratio in Central and Eastern Europe, and it is also ahead of most of the European Union countries. Have a look closer: Ministry of Foreign Affairs