Czechia’s performance towards the Digital Decade targets and objectives.
In 2023, Czechia made notable progress in enhancing digital skills. However, important challenges persist in the roll out of Fibre To The Premises networks. Although SMEs need to progress in the take up of digitalisation, Czechia has advanced in the up take of Artificial Intelligence.
Two main strengths or areas of progress
Basic digital skills
69.1% of the population has at least a basic level of digital skills, well above the EU average (55.6%). Czech students benefit from the introduction of digital subjects in primary and secondary school curricula and the availability of digital tools in schools.
Advanced technologies
Czechia aims to excel in cutting-edge technologies like quantum, microchips, and Artificial Intelligence, as well as upskill its population to keep up with innovation. To nurture its ambitions and keep up with the growing adoption of AI by its enterprises, Czechia is updating its National Strategies.
Two main weaknesses or areas to improve
Connectivity infrastructure
Reaching 100% coverage for Very High-Capacity Networks (VHCN) will be challenging due to the slow roll-out of fibre (whose coverage currently stands at 36.1%) and a very low take-up of fixed broadband capable of 1 Gbps speed (2.95% of fixed broadband subscriptions).
Digitalisation of SMEs
Despite having technology-intensive companies in areas such as microelectronics, quantum computing and AI start-ups, 49.3% of SMEs have at least a basic level of digital intensity, which is below the EU average of 57.7%.
Czechia's Key Performance Indicators
Czechia’s Digital Decade strategic roadmap
Czechia’s roadmap demonstrates that the country plans some efforts to achieve the Digital Decade objectives and targets. It sets targets for 12 out of 14 key performance indicators (KPIs) and, while 5 of them are aligned with the EU 2030 ambitions, 7 are lower, including the targets measuring the take-up of advanced technologies by enterprises. To achieve its digital transformation, Czechia plans to allocate a total budget (excluding private investments) estimated at EUR 1.77 billion (0.6% GDP).
Digital rights and principles
The Special Eurobarometer 'Digital Decade 2024' reports that 46% of Czech respondents does not believe the EU protects their digital rights well (-5% compared to 2023). Concerns have escalated, particularly with 58% worried about children's online safety and 44% about control over personal data. These findings underscore the need to reinforce digital rights at national level. On the positive side, 57% value freedom of expression and 55% appreciate the availability of privacy-friendly technologies, both figures aligning closely with EU averages.
Country-Specific Recommendations
Czechia must improve its performance towards the Digital Decade targets and objectives, to foster competitiveness, resilience, sovereignty, and promote European values and climate action.
Connectivity infrastructure
Accelerate the rollout of FTTP, by raising awareness on the benefits of Gigabit networks, simplifying permits procedures for rolling out networks and promoting the construction of fibre-ready buildings.
Digitalisation of SMEs
Continue and scale up the subsidy calls for digitalisation of SMEs to increase their capacity building through supporting services in the implementation of their project.
Adoption of advanced digital technologies by enterprises
Review the mix of measures to support the adoption of advanced digital technologies including AI, cloud and big data to understand the decline in adoption.
ICT specialists
Increase the attractiveness of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) studies and ICT careers, especially among women.
e-Health
Make more health data types available to citizens through the online access service and increase the supply of health data.
More on the Digital Decade Report 2024
Digital Decade 2024 report: Country fact pages
Check out the progress of all Member States and extracts of country-specific recommendations.