1 - Towards a Digital Society and Knowledge-based Economy The ICT revolution has extended the reach of the sector far beyond facilitating communication, to the extent that sustainable development in all fields now largely relies on the use of ICTs. Egypt’s 25 January Revolution, which in early 2011 set the country on the path of political transformation, was itself largely influenced by the use of ICTs, in particular social networks. Aside from the major changes this revolution ushered in for Egypt, it has also changed the way Egyptians perceive ICT tools and systems, which have created an important platform for them to express their opinions, participate in public affairs and join together to find solutions to issues of common concern. Since the revolution, not only has there been considerable growth in the number of Egyptians using the internet, but significant changes in the way the internet is used, with one of the more notable shifts being the increase in young people engaging with political rather than entertainment-related content. In this context, three main features of the internet are clear: its interactive nature; the absence of a central organizational authority, making content online more difficult to control and monitor than traditional media content; and the broad social base of users, which is not limited by geographic or political boundaries. As a result, those using the internet are not mere recipients of content but active participants in its formation. This has brought about a change in the very nature of communication: ordinary members of society are now able to respond and interact. Indeed, online dialogue is often peer-to-peer in nature, reflecting less the social 16 17 position or political affiliation of interlocutors than their opinions on certain topics. Some argue that the influence of the internet within society and the prevalence of networking have brought about a shift from hierarchical state to networking community. MCIT seeks to embrace this shift, and to empower all Egyptians to play a full and active role as digital citizens in the development of their community and society. 1.1 The ICT Sector: Past and Present The amazing development in ICT usage in Egypt would not have occurred without the technical and institutional boom set in motion by the government since 2000. The newly established Ministry of Communications and Information Technology set out to establish a vibrant and open ICT sector, to ensure wide access to fast internet through a solid infrastructure capable of attracting investment and supporting the development of both the sector and the wider economy, and to promote the training necessary to enable citizens to adapt ICT tools and systems to serve the community and boost the economic performance of the state. In 2000, MCIT initiated a National ICT Plan to ensure the spread and effective use of ICT among both individuals and businesses, and to establish legislative and regulatory rules to guarantee an open market for ICT services. As part of this process, MCIT identified best practices, critical success factors and potential challenges, allowing it to amend ICT policies and restructure the sector in response to real-time needs.