Digital Public Space [Espace public numerique] (EPN)

A Digital Public Space (Espace public numérique, EPN) is a local non-profit structure open to all, equipped with IT equipment and connected to the internet, promoted through Digital Wallonia in Belgium. As of 2020 there were over 170 EPN centres. Since 2007, EPNs that respect the 'Charter of EPNs' are labelled by the regional administration (Service public de Wallonie) after evaluation by a board of experts from the Digital Agency, the Walloon administration and Technofutur TIC; to qualify they must be open at least 16 hours a week, have at least 4 computers, and apply a social pricing policy.

EPN centres aim to promote citizen participation by all in the Information Society. They are targeted at the over-60s, people without a secondary-education diploma, people without professional activity and women — identified as the main categories of non-internet-users by the 2015 Digital Barometer of Walloon citizens.

EPNs offer access to and learning about computers, the internet and digital culture in a friendly, cooperative and responsible way, through individual or collective activities. They help people become familiar with internet basics and promote its use for government services, job searches and access to knowledge and training. Spaces — specialised or generalist, fixed or mobile — are tailored to local needs and integrated into local life.

Attendee-level output data shows free access provided to 96% of attendees, training to 90%, entertainment to 79% and awareness-raising to 67%.