Approximately six weeks since March 11, when the first measures began and eight since the first case of Coronavirus in the country in February, constitute a major juncture in time, in the economy and in society. And even on a global level.
But let’s look at some characteristics of the period and try to make a reference to the near future, as the long-term forecasts are extremely… unpredictable and unprecedented.
First, at the level of the country’s infrastructure: In addition to the excellent response and reaction from the government, there is also the implementation of intentions. And implementation takes place when the infrastructure and the background are in place.
The fact that the hospitals were operational, there were doctors and nursing staff as well as infrastructure and supplies – of an exceptional level and especially in the public sector, the security forces and operations centers were operational, 112 (a 2014 NSRF project that had been frozen until 2019), the armed forces (in Evros and the islands), the supply chains and especially telecommunications and IT are the result of many, many years of preparation and investment. And even under extremely adverse conditions of 10 years of memoranda and of investments in capital and human resources.
Secondly, at the level of our sector, technology, the “miracle” that was achieved was not a “miracle” but the reality of creating infrastructure and knowledge of the human resources working in this sector. Communications networks, without warning, immediately withstood the load of millions of (simultaneous) connections, data networks, petabytes of traffic with minimal failures, IT companies, their scientists and engineers, supported in no time the transition of thousands of employees in the public and private sectors, to telework and 1.5 million students, students and teachers to teleeducation. Not to mention the immediate digital handling of citizen licensing, the electronicization of certificates, KEP, ERGANIS, pensions and so many others.
In no time!
I have heard throughout my years of work (36…) a constant grumbling about the money we “throw away” on technology, infrastructure and networks and some who “play” on screens… Both in the private and public sectors… And a global disaster came to prove, not only the usefulness but also the preparation that was done and is being done… Quietly and without fanfare… So that I don’t have to imagine what would happen if the internet, communications and network applications for voice, image and data and their security were not immediately available…
Let’s all keep this in mind after the restart…