Sunrise CEO identifies lack of political leadership in digitalization
Published: Tuesday, Jun 18th 2024, 17:41
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Sunrise CEO André Krause criticizes the lack of political leadership in the digitalization of public tasks. "If federalism is used to argue that no leadership is needed, it will be difficult," he said at a telecoms industry event in Bern on Tuesday.
He admits that this process is not easy in federalism, said Krause: "But I lack the will, the leadership, the vision, a clear political push. Too often I hear the argument that it's all difficult to implement," he said at a panel discussion at the Swiss Telecommunication Summit organized by the telecom association Asut.
Small countries also have a chance when it comes to digitalization. Estonia is a leader in e-government, Israel in cyber security. "We just need the political will and leadership to drive these things forward. With our strong infrastructures and resources, we are too hesitant," said the Sunrise CEO.
Agreement from Green Group President
The Sunrise boss received approval from Aline Trede, President of the Green Party: "We could be faster. You're absolutely right. We discuss the wolf in parliament perhaps 400 times and 5G twice."
The electronic identity card (e-ID) could already have been introduced if a good proposal had been made. Then there would have been no referendum, said Trede. It should have been clear where the data was and that the federal government was in the lead. A majority of the Swiss population did not want any company to make the E-ID, said Trede.
Elisabeth Ehrensperger, Director of the Foundation for Technology Assessment (TA-Swiss), took a different view: "The fact that the population can have a say is the reason why we are lagging behind when it comes to digitalization. But the fact that an e-ID can be prevented at the ballot box is a good thing."
Technology development must be geared towards the needs of the affected population. "It's very complicated in Switzerland. Federalism plays its part," said Ehrensperger: "But the solutions are sustainable because they are politically legitimized.
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