In 1999 Internet Caravans were started in Tunisia to take around the country certain mobile workshops about the Internet. In November each year, an Internet Week series of events is held, featuring seminars, trade shows, and training sessions. The highlight is a Web Oscars awards ceremony broadcast on national TV and honoring the best Tunisian Web sites of the year. There are also Open Internet Days in November, when PubliNets offer free Internet access to all users. All Tunisian universities and schools are expected to be online by 2002.
Internet access is available via a local call across the whole country.
E-Tijara is operated by ATI in cooperation with major Tunisian banks. Digital certificates are currently handled by U.S.-based Verisign until a Tunisian certification authority is installed. The cards will be available at most post offices in denominations of 20 to 50 dinars, are rechargeable, and can be used for consumer e-commerce, said Abdelkrim Bouzid, chief technology officer at La Poste Tunisienne. Alcatel, Ericsson, and Nortel have local production facilities in Tunisia and are participating in digitization of local telecom networks. The Tunisian government is assisting start-ups via incubator facilities.