Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is pushing forward with Hungary’s digital aspirations after holding meetings with Vittorio Colao, chief executive officer at Vodafone Group.
According to sources, the pair talked about digital development, next generation mobile services and the introduction of a 5G network.
During the meeting the parties highlighted that the digital economy is one of the keys to Hungary’s development as this area has accounted for nearly one quarter of Hungary’s economic growth in the past few years.
Government insiders state that this sector is of strategic importance and between 2014 and 2021 the government will have spent a record amount, 130 billion HUF, on the development of telecommunications.
Vittorio Colao pointed out that in Hungary Vodafone is one of the most important British investors. To date, the company has invested hundreds of billions of forints in mobile service developments in Hungary, employs 2,600 people at its head office in the capital as well as at its international services center in Budapest, and another 600 people at its customer services unit in Miskolc.
According to sources, the chief executive believes it clearly testifies to the company group’s commitment to Hungary that Vodafone is taking an active part in the implementation of the local Digital Welfare Programme, and via the Vodafone Foundation it is a dedicated supporter of the development of digital education in Hungary.
The meeting held on Monday in the Parliament building was also attended by Minister of Innovation and Technology László Palkovics, Parliamentary State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Levente Magyar, Vodafone Hungary’s Chief Executive Officer Amanda Nelson and Deputy CEO Gergő J. Budai.