Overview

Greece is undergoing a digital transformation through a multifaceted plan to fully digitize the country by 2025. The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector is the driving force behind this undergoing transformation that the Government of Greece has initiated to reduce bureaucracy, simplify procedures, and help the country converge with the European Union (EU) average Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI), as it ranks in the 25th position out of the 27 EU Member States. The pandemic greatly accelerated the pace of this transformation by moving many public services online and Greece was one of the first nations to have a digital vaccination certification and vaccine appointment platform. Finally, the removal of Greece from the USTR 301 watchlist shows the commitment of the government to invest in the Digital Transformation of the country and bring its standards up to the highest European level.

Such factors have contributed to the announcement of major investments into the country by U.S. firms such as Microsoft, IBM, Digital Reality, Amazon, and CISCO. Starlink launched in Greece in 2022 and major U.S. firms are leaders in providing cloud, database systems, applications infrastructure and software systems, communication systems, developer tools, business analytics, enterprise management and cybersecurity solutions, in both the public and private sectors.

The value of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Market

The value of the ICT market in Greece in 2021 was $7.203 billion showing an increase of 3.5% over last year, while 2022 is expected to increase even further at $8.58 billion. A continuous increase in 2022 and the subsequent years is projected, as serious investments are expected in Greece, which are essential for the digital transformation of the country, including among others, the upgrade and expansion of existing networks and the next-generation broadband infrastructure implementation. In addition, the advent of 5G technology is expected to act as a catalyst for the entire telecommunications market, positively affecting the Telecommunications Equipment and Services, from 2022 onwards.

Leading Sub-Sectors

Information Technology (IT) accounts for the 32% of the total ICT Market, with a total value $2.3 billion.

The IT sector consists of:

• IT hardware equipment (32%)
• IT services including (50%)
• Business software, mainly ERP (18%)
• Telecommunications accounts for the 68% of the total ICT Market with total value at $4.9 billion.

The Telecommunications sector consists of:

• Telecommunications services: the leading category in the telecom sector, accounts for 80% of the market, and is made up primarily of three players. Cosmote (a fully owned subsidiary of the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE) owned and managed by Germany’s Deutsche Telekom) with 46% share of the market, Vodafone (a subsidiary of Vodafone Group) with 31%, and WIND with 22%.
• Telecommunications equipment: the second largest category which accounts for the remaining 20% of the market is essentially dominated by the sale of smartphones.

Opportunities

From the $33.6 billion recovery and resilience plan approved by the European Commission for Greece, $7.7 billion is allocated to the digital transition, which represents 23.3% of the plan’s total allocation. It includes a comprehensive set of reforms and investments in digital fields, addressing the country-specific recommendations and reflecting Greece’s effort to support the country’s digital transition.

The plan encompasses measures aimed at:

• Enhancing connectivity, by accelerating and facilitating the deployment of very high-capacity networks.

• Improving the digitalization of public administration and key sectors of the economy, notably through a wider adoption of digital capacities and advanced digital technologies.

• Fostering the digitalization of Greek businesses.

• Developing the digital skills of the whole population to reduce the digital divide.

• Implementing several multi-country projects, to achieve scale and interoperability.

• The Greek government approved ICT projects included in the “Greece 2.0” plan, worth $2.32 billion.

• Development of Ultra-Fast Broadband infrastructure (UFBB) to increase the availability of next generation broadband services across the country. It includes the development of an extensive network of high-end broadband infrastructure with the ability to provide internet connection of at least 100 Mbps and upgradeable to 1 Gbps with a target coverage of approximately 2,400,000 citizens ($770 million). This project has already been tendered and in motion regarding the laying of the fiber optic cables. The two assigned consortiums are expected to issue tenders for the remaining 20% part of the project, regarding the supportive telecommunication networking solutions for the broadband infrastructure.

• Improvement of equipment at the Independent Authority for Public Revenue ($13.42 million).

• Reforming the fiscal system in central administration and the general government (Government ERP) ($39.8 million).

• Expanding and supporting a National Telecom’s Network ($35.3 million).

• Network upgrading with fiber optics for the Greek Research and Technology Network (GRNET) and all connected networks of academic and research groups in the country, schools, public hospitals, and education ($33.6 million).

• Single Digital Infrastructure to offer digital services to citizens ($76.3 million).

• Internet services to offer G2G Web services through the gov.gr platform ($30.7 million).

• Upgrading open data provision, the data.gov.gr platform ($6.1 million).

• Local city plans ($379.5 million).

• Inclusion of a social digital program for students ($142.1 million).

• Digitization of the archives of the Public Sector records ($798.6 million).

• In addition to the opportunities above, pending privatizations of critical shipyards/ports/airports in addition to grid modernization and FSRU projects will likely create opportunities in the cybersecurity space. These opportunities will likely be tendered in a private setting by the project owners.

Tenders for such projects are expected to be announced at the Ministry of Digital Governance and the DIAVGEIA National tenders platform.  Firms interested in competing for such tenders will need to have a local partner, such as an integrator, if they cannot provide the full solution. Furthermore, local partners are recommended due to tender requirements, execution, and navigating complicated bureaucratic procedures. The Greek Government plans to release a 5G Toolkit detailing the needs of critical infrastructure, which will likely signal commitment to high standards and note the importance of critical core infrastructure being secure.

To learn more please contact Industry Specialist Nikos Papachryssanthopoulos at Nikos.Papachrys@trade.gov.

Resources

The Ministry of Digital Governance

The Federation of Hellenic ICT Enterprises (SEPE) at http://www.sepe.gr/

Greek Research and Technology Network (GRNET)

The Hellenic Association of Innovative Applications Companies (SEKEE)

Elevate Greece, official platform on the Greek Startup Ecosystem

European Commission, Greece in the Digital Economy, and Society Index

European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (‘ENISA’)