[3][4][5][6] The 2022 DESI methodology encompasses four dimensions:[7] The 2022 Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) utilizes a structured methodology to evaluate the EU's digital advancement, employing a bottom-up aggregation approach that applies simple weighted arithmetic averages in accordance with its index structure.
Additionally, it quantifies the percentage of the workforce categorized as ICT specialists, alongside the representation of women within this group, thereby indicating the gender diversity in the tech sector.
[8] The "Connectivity" dimension evaluates the EU's fixed and mobile broadband infrastructure through indicators measuring availability, adoption, and affordability.
Coverage indicators assess the presence of Next Generation Access (NGA) broadband capable of at least 30 Mbps download speeds, the extent of Fixed Very High Capacity Network (VHCN) coverage incorporating technologies like Fiber to the Home (FTTH), Fiber to the Building (FTTB), and advanced cable systems.
These indicators aim to quantify the supply and demand for broadband services, as well as retail prices, within the context of targets set by the Digital Decade Compass.
Although the European Union has full coverage of basic broadband infrastructure, only 44% of households benefit from VHCN connectivity, which consists of fiber to the x (FTTX) and cable DOCSIS 3.1 technologies.
Key indicators include the percentage of SMEs with a basic level of digital intensity, defined by the use of at least four out of twelve selected technologies; the implementation of enterprise resource planning (ERP) software for information sharing across various business functions; the use of social media, big data analysis, cloud computing services, and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies by enterprises; the contribution of ICT to environmental sustainability; the sending of e-invoices; and the engagement of SMEs in online sales, including the proportion of their turnover from e-commerce and their participation in cross-border online sales within the EU.
[7] Digital technologies make possible for companies to gain competitive advantage by improving their services, products and expanding their markets.
The leading countries on ‘4a business digitization’ (i.e. electronic information sharing, social media, big data and cloud) are Finland, the Netherlands and Belgium, with scores above 60 points.
Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Latvia and Slovakia lag behind in the adoption of e-business technologies, scoring below 40 points.
Ireland leads in all the three indicators under e-commerce while Bulgaria, Greece, Luxembourg and Romania are the worst countries with scores below 25 points.
[10] The "Digital Public Services" dimension evaluates e-government and open data initiatives using indicators from Eurostat and the eGovernment Benchmark.
[11] In the 2022 Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) methodology, "Use of Internet Services" is no longer categorized as an independent dimension.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, already 85% of the citizens used the Internet already but, this crisis, has helped this percentage increase along with the interactions these users commit on the network.