A milestone has been reached in telecommunications with the establishment of a single rate for phone calls anywhere within Iceland, thereby eliminating regional cost-disparities. Extensive cellular mobile phone systems are also operated. A recent Action Plan from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture aims to set up wireless networks in upper-secondary schools and give students the option of using laptops or other mobile devices to access dedicated educational material on the Internet. Thus the young population will be able to use modern mobile technology for educational purposes. Iceland has always been quick to introduce telecommunications technology and was the first country in the world to set up a fully digital phone network.
International connections are by fibre-optic sea cable and satellite.
All urban communities around the country are linked by fibre-optic cable. The Information Society Taskforce in Iceland has commissioned five surveys of computer ownership and Internet use in Iceland over the period 1998-2000. Findings are now available from the most recent report, conducted in September 2000. In the Government's policy declaration of 23 April 1995, objectives in the governmental political arena for the utilisation of information technology to improve public administration and stimulate the economy were set forth for the first time in Iceland. In this strategy it is considered especially necessary to capitalise on two kinds of qualities that are deeply rooted in the Icelandic national character.