Denmark is an information society and the technological infrastructure plays a central role in the all parts of the society. A well functioning IT infrastructure facilitates a healthy competition, supports innovation, and a variety of platforms and technologies serves the needs of companies, institutions and households. One third of the increase in work productivity in Denmark since 2000 has been caused by Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
Denmark has a highly developed telecom and data infrastructure with a variety of platforms and technologies to serve the needs of companies, institutions and households. The government has made efforts to give the country good conditions to lead the way towards the network society. By encouraging competition in the sector, the authorities are making sure that users have access to a variety of infrastructure solutions.
IT
Through the last 15 years Denmark has developed into a highly developed IT society. In 2006, 88 per cent of the population had access to a PC in the home and 83 per cent of the population had access to the internet from home. This has lead to a top three ranking in IMD’s World Competitiveness Yearbook’s 2006 in the category “Computers per Capita”. According to IMD’s World Competitiveness Yearbook 2006 Denmark is ranked third in the category “Internet Users” with almost 728 internet users per 1000 capita.
Other IT facilities
Submarine fibre optic ring
Denmark serves as a hub for the exchange of international telecommunications traffic. For example, the country has direct access to an important broadband connection – the TAT-14 System.The transatlantic fibre optic cable TAT-14 runs across the Atlantic and connects five different cable stations in Europe and two in the U.S. It goes from New York to England, France, Holland, Germany, and ends at the west coast of Denmark, from where it goes back to New York through the north coast of England. TAT-14 has a total capacity superior to 1.3 Tbit/s.
Fixed Wireless Access
Denmark has also adopted wireless technologies as a supplement to the traditional broadband solutions. At the end of 2000, the National Telecom Agency awarded seven Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) licenses, four in the 26 GHz band and three in the 3.5 GHz band.
Data Centres
Denmark has a long and strong tradition in operating and managing business-critical data centres that can provide the IT and connectivity services needed by companies to establish and expand their business. Interxion, CSC, COLT Telecom, DMdata and Netgroup are examples of companies that offer such services.
Telecom
Denmark is also in front in terms of telephone communication. In the 2006 edition of IMD’s World Competitiveness Yearbook Denmark is ranked in top 10 when it comes to the number of fixed telephone lines per inhabitants. By the end of 2005 the number of mobile phone subscriptions for the first time exceeded the number of inhabitants in Denmark. And the prices for mobile telephony are some of the lowest in the world. Also IP telephony has, with a significant growth within the last couple of years, gained ground in Denmark – mainly within companies.
Wireless networks
Denmark has two 2nd generation mobile networks: GSM900 (2 licenses) and GSM1800 (4 licenses).Following a decision made by the Danish Parliament, Denmark’s National Telecom Agency awarded by auction four licenses for the establishment and operation of 3rd generation mobile networks, including the UMTS standard. The licences were conferred in September 2001 to TDC, Telia, Sonofon and the Hong Kong-based HI3G Denmark.The companies are committed to provide 3rd generation services to 80% of the population by 2008.
