Public Service Networking Platforms Drive Modernization
Public Service Networking (PSN) platforms are emerging as a key driver of government modernization across Europe. These platforms integrate digital infrastructure and data analytics to provide unified access and interoperability between agencies, researchers, and the public, reshaping how governments deliver services.
- The pan-European GÉANT network, a collaboration of 38 partners, connects over 50 million users at 10,000 institutions. It supports all scientific disciplines by operating at speeds of up to 500Gbps and transfers over 1,000 terabytes of data daily. - In the United Kingdom, the Janet network serves 18 million users across research and education and is the busiest national research and education network in Europe by data volume. Its origins trace back to regional academic networks in the late 1960s, becoming a national network in 1984. - The European Union's "Interoperable Europe Act," which entered into force in April 2024, aims to create a unified network of public administrations to ensure seamless cross-border digital public services. This legislation establishes the Interoperable Europe Board to steer the cooperation framework. - As of 2023, the EU's Single Digital Gateway provides centralized online access to information and key administrative procedures for citizens and businesses operating across member states. By December 2023, 21 key administrative procedures, such as registering a vehicle or applying for study grants, were slated to be fully available online in all member states. - Public sector bodies in the EU are required to comply with the Web Accessibility Directive (EN 301 549), which mandates adherence to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA to ensure websites and apps are perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. - AI is being increasingly adopted in the public sector, with half of all "GovTech" investment deals in 2024 being AI-related. Examples of AI in use include a chatbot named Muni that assists residents in 37 Danish municipalities and an AI system in Verona, Italy, that analyzes sensor data to manage traffic congestion. - The UK's Public Services Network (PSN) was established as part of the Transformational Government Strategy starting in 2005 to unify network infrastructure and reduce costs, but is now considered a legacy network as organizations migrate to public internet services. - The COVID-19 pandemic significantly accelerated the digitalization of public services across the EU, although the level of progress varies between member states. The European Commission has set a goal for all essential public services to be available online by 2030.
