Towards Evidence-based ICT Policy and Regulation The Strategic Axes To fulfil the vision through the two pillars, Benin’s strategy rests on five axes. They are: • the legal and institutional framework ; • infrastructure ; • human resources ; • the development of content, which is adapted to the needs of the country in all sectors ; and • competitiveness To make these strategies operational, the government has adopted key actions for each pillar in each of the axes used. In the field of e-government, a series of texts (on electronic signatures, cryptology, protection of citizens’ private lives, and cybercrime) will be adopted in view of bridging the legal gap and to propel Benin into the information society. These texts will allow Benin: • to seize the opportunities that ICT offers ; • to carry out digital processing, thereby using less paper ; • to ensure universal service to the most disadvantaged areas. To that purpose, the Fond de Dévéloppement Universel des ICT (FDUTIC) (The ICT Universal Development Fund) will be strengthened through the contributions of telecommunication operators in accordance with universal service, possible State subsidies or any other bequests. The implementation of the governmental intranet will require a high-speed connection between the different State structures and even within each structure and its possible divisions. Infrastructure will also involve transport, data storage and processing as well as network and data security. In addition, with the goal of strengthening the abilities and know-how of administration officials and of ensuring knowledge management in ICT, the government will encourage the creation of centres of excellence and training in telecommunication and ICT in relation to any touchstone institutions on international level. Once the infrastructure has been put into place, the government will roll out applications that will render the use of ICT in administration effective. It will involve the generalization of collaborative work tools, automation of administration business processes and information systems. The creation of a resource centre for technical support and the development of adopted software will be one of the priorities. In the field of e-business, institutional reforms will be carried out with the goal of reorganizing the sector, making it more transparent and predictable for State operators and for consumers by: • Drawing up a code of electronic communication and post, which aims to organize and revitalize the sector. It will define a legal framework allowing, among others, to better integrate the technological innovations that characterize the sector. • Creating a new Electronic Communication and Posts Regulation Authority, which is independent and autonomous in respect of the ECOWAS guidelines as a replacement for the transitional Authority. • Implementing a system of promoting companies that bring growth and which are oriented towards exportation. • Reorganization of the AGeNTIC (the Agency for the Management of New Information and Communication Technologies) of which the board of directors will consist of State and private sector representatives and which will promote companies within the sector while ensuring that project management is delegated. The State will see to it that a quality network be rolled out on national level to reduce the digital divide between the department of Littoral (Cotonou) and the rest of the country. The telecommunication infrastructures (in particular SAT-3 fibre optic, which is interconnected with neighbouring countries) will allow Benin to draw advantage from its position of transit country. In addition, the State will ensure that the infrastructures implemented by Bénin-Télécom SA and private operators are state-of-the-art infrastructures so that service-exporting companies (Teleservice) can offer system provision on international standards. 4