4. Information and communication technologies

4.1 Technical developments

First introduced in the 1970s, telematics spread over long-distance networks and flourished with data management in remote local networks. Around 1990, the digitization of speech signals paved the way for multimedia services combining sound, images and special effects. Between 1990 and 2000, following the development of the Internet, the term NTIC (or TIC) came into use. ICT is the integration of telecommunications, computer, multimedia signal and audiovisual technologies on a single network. The widespread use of IP-based networks has boosted the ICT sector and brought information sources closer to the citizen, thanks to lower costs. Database content in all formats is now available to any broadband subscriber, whether connected by cable, fiber or radio....