Digital inclusion and accessibility
The Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS) monitors the electronic communications and postal sectors in Sweden, and is one of the key strategic authorities responsible for ensuring that the objectives of the Government’s Disability Policy are realized.
PTS has been assigned by the Government to ensure that crucial services within telephony, the internet and postal services are available for all citizens, including people with different kinds of disabilities.
The Swedish Government’s Disability Policy follows the intentions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The policy is based on the principle of universal equality of human dignity and human rights. For example that information and communications technology (ICT) should be available for all.
At PTS a group of specialists are dedicated to the task of providing the society with information and services that fills the gap of accessible communication solutions that is provided by the market. This is done with collaboration projects, studies, investigations and procurement of accessibility services such as:
- Free directory enquiries
- Relay service for video telephony
- Relay service for text telephony
- Administrative support during phone calls
- Free dispatch of literature in Braille
- Postal services for elderly and disabled in rural areas
PTS also invests a lot of time and money in innovation. Sweden has a strong history of developing innovations and technical improvements. In an increasingly digitalized society, we believe that this is an important area to support to ensure digital inclusion. One example of innovation forward activities is the innovation competition PTS arranges since 2010. Through the competition, companies, universities, higher learning institutes and research institutes have a chance to apply for financing of service and product development as well as studies in the field of electronic communication.