4. Conclusions
The Basque Country reaches an outstanding fifth position in the digitisation of its economy and society, based on the improvement of results, especially in the integration of technology in companies, human capital and connectivity. Denmark, Finland, The Netherlands and Sweden (2017) and Denmark, Sweden, Finland and the Netherlands (2018) continue to appear in the group of leading countries. Progress has been made in all dimensions, albeit with different intensity, which has made it possible for the Basque region to move up one position in relation to the data for 2017. However, this partial progress in certain indicators does not allow the Basque region to improve its relative position in comparison to the rest of the EU-28 Member States, as occurs in the case of the use of digital services over the Internet or digital public services.
It can be said that the Basque Country has outstanding connectivity capabilities, both in fixed and mobile broadband, and in fast and ultrafast broadband. The structure of the connectivity market has made it possible to improve by lowering the access prices; but, even so, it continues in positions that need further improvement. In spite of all this, given the high levels in the connectivity indicators, improvements in the upper range are increasingly complex and difficult.
The advance in the human capital results has not enabled our region to gain relative positions with regard to the rest of the EU-28 countries. There has been a setback in the basic skills of citizens coupled with an improvement in advanced skills. The increase of ICT specialists in the labour market does not prevent this score/figure from continuing to be very low. In contrast, digitisation in the economy as a whole can count on a good pool of graduates in STEM areas.
The use of Internet services has had a negative evolution in the last year, starting from a low position in 2017. The reduction in the download of music, videos and online games has hampered the issue of online content, which shows an increment in online video on demand. The level of usage of communication technologies by Basque citizens is still low, and the increases in the scores have not allowed the Basque Country to move up positions. The same applies to online banking and shopping, where progress has been made, but at a similar pace to that of the EU-28 as a whole. Beyond the fact that certain indicators could be unrepresentative of the digital behaviour of Basque society, the actual level of usage of digital services continues to be a barrier to/for/in the digitisation of Basque society.
The digitisation of companies continues to show two types of behaviour concerning the incorporation of technologies and their contribution to online sales. Virtually all of the indicators of technological integration have experienced a remarkable net growth. Conversely, the growth in e-commerce has been more modest, where no relative position has been gained and where the gap between the Basque Country and the rest of the European countries has actually widened. It is in this second area that certain developments are being held back, both in the degree of commercialisation through new digital channels, as well as in the invoicing and in the commercial opening to the rest of the European internal market.
In addition to this, the Basque Country has a fairly high degree of digitisation of health services which, together with a notable growth in eGovernment, have made gradual progress possible in the digitisation of public services. Despite the good results of these indicators, the lower level of usage of online public services has meant a net decline in this dimension, which, as in 2017, is scarcely above the European average.
In short, the areas of improvement already identified in 2017 continue to require special attention, such as the level of ICT specialisation, the use of digital services of a transactional nature, the materialisation of business sales opportunities through online channels or citizen use of digital public services.
Bearing in mind that the measures do not have an immediate effect and their translation into results of the DESI indicators occurs over time, the focus should continue on promoting certain attitudes towards the digital culture under construction, such as online sales or the consumption of certain digital services that are already available through the new online channels. It is also worth highlighting the good results in connectivity and the progress in the share of ICT specialists.