Inetum establishes six new Digibanks in Belgium to promote digital inclusion

Digital services and solutions provider Inetum, in collaboration with local authorities, has set up Digibank in six Belgian municipalities of Zuiderkempen—Geel, Herselt, Hulshout, Laakdal, Meerhout, and Westerlo. This initiative aims to provide residents, especially vulnerable youth and other citizens, with access to the digital world in a supportive environment.

A Step Towards Digital Inclusion

Funded by the local government's Flemish Resilience relaunch plan (Vlaamse Veerkracht), the Digibank is part of a broader effort to bridge the digital gap. According to local authorities, the created spaces are a significant step towards promoting digital inclusion. Citizens can visit Digibanks to ask digital-related questions, donate used devices, borrow digital equipment, and even study or print materials.

Jo Leemans, Director of Technologies at Inetum Belgium, emphasizes that the creation of these Digibanks aligns with Inetum's strategy to make digitalization safe and accessible to the public. The company aims to play an active role in society's digital transformation.

Each Digibank features ten digital access points, with plans for further expansion. Each point typically consists of five laptops available for public use. Volunteers assist users at these locations during designated time slots.

The project also collaborates with educational institutions, offering training in digital devices. This educational component allows citizens to enhance their digital skills and make the most of the resources provided by the Digibanks.

The launch is not a first. In 2022, six Digibanks were established in Flanders, while BeCode set up Digibanks in Antwerp, Brussels, and Ghent. In Kortrijk alone, city subsidy advisor Hanne Denoo has previously said the aim is to have at least 20 Digibanks in Kortrijk to accelerate digital access and needs.

Operational Management and Financial Strategy

The Digibanks in Zuiderkempen utilize an existing framework agreement with the city of Brugge. Inetum's Workplace-as-a-Service service is responsible for the Digibank operational aspects and simplifies management for the municipality. Inetum also leverages its cybersecurity expertise (e.g., SIEM solution Keenaï consisting of ALERT, SCADA, SOC) to ensure a secure environment.

Local authorities have said that Inetum’s commitment and deployed capabilities “unburden the municipality's IT department, ensuring residents have safe access to digital resources.”

With the subsidy from the Flemish government, the municipalities opted to purchase, rather than rent, the equipment needed for the Digibanks. The subsidy period extends until the end of 2026, and by buying the equipment through the Brugge framework contract, the Digibanks are not bound by the subsidy’s deadline. This approach ensures that each digital access point remains operational beyond the subsidy period.

However, the cost of Inetum’s Workplace-as-a-Service remains a consideration. The expense falls on the budget of each local authority, ensuring the continuation of the Digibanks beyond the initial subsidy.

Why are Digibanks of interest?

According to the annual Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) released by the European Commission, a report that assesses and ranks a country’s digital maturity, Belgium features outside of the top 10. Digibanks are highlighted in DESI’s Belgium report reflecting their ability to reducing the risk of digital exclusion through three objectives:

1. Provide equal access to digital technology by making laptops, tablets, and other hardware available on a conditional basis, for example, through a lending service.
2. Strengthen, through training and knowledge sharing, both personal and technical digital skills.
3. Provide guidance on the use of digital services to ensure improved digital access to essential services, such as digital government services.

Looking Ahead

The initiative by Inetum and the local authorities of Zuiderkempen represents a significant effort to bridge the digital divide. According to different sources (Orange Cyberdefense, Statbel, The Brussels Times), between 30-40% of the Belgian population have poor digital skills. Digital services and solutions providers can play a more significant role in Business-to-Business-to-Society (B2B2S) while simultaneously enhancing their brand reputation as a proactive contributor to improving Belgium’s digital maturity. Moreover, IT providers can showcase their digital expertise and solutions (e.g., Inetum's Workplace-as-a-Service, cybersecurity expertise) at the local government level, which may lead to further conversations and opportunities with public sector institutions.