Denmark’s state-run postal service, PostNord, announced that it would cease letter deliveries at the end of 2025 due to the impact of digitalization. As 95% of its residents now use the Digital Post service, Denmark has seen a 90% decline in letter volumes since 2000, from 1.4 billion to 110 million last year.
On top of that, the Postal Act of 2024 removes the government’s obligation to provide universal mail service and puts an end to postal exemptions from value-added tax, raising the cost of a single letter to 29 Danish krone (US$4.20). As a result, PostNord is switching its focus to parcel deliveries, a change that may cause 1,500 job cuts. After 400 years of relying on the postal service, Danes will soon have to turn to private companies for letter delivery.
丹麥國營郵政服務「北方郵政」宣布，由於數位化的影響，將於 2025 年底停止信件投遞。由於目前有 95% 的居民在使用數位郵政服務，丹麥自 2000 年以來的信件數量已下降 90%，從十四億封減少至去年剩 1.1 億封。
Photo: AdobeStock I 照片:AdobeStock
此外，2024年的郵政法移除了政府提供全民信件服務的義務，並終止了郵政業務的增值稅減免，導致一封信件的費用提高至 29 丹麥克朗（約 4.20 美元）。因此，北方郵政正將重點業務轉向包裹投遞，此變革可能會導致一千五百人被裁員。在依賴郵政服務四百年後，丹麥人很快就必須轉向私人公司以處理信件投遞。
What Did You Learn?
What has caused the number of letters in Denmark to decrease?
參考答案 :
Digitalization.
Word in Use
1. cease vt. 停止，中止
The factory decided to cease production of the outdated model.
這家工廠決定停止生產這款過時的型號。
2. digitalization n. 數位化
digital a. 數位的
The government is promoting the digitalization of public services.
政府正在推動公共服務數位化。
The company is shifting to a fully digital workspace.
這家公司正在轉型為完全數位化的工作環境。
3. decline n. 下降
There has been a decline in newspaper sales over the years.
多年來，報紙銷量持續下降。
4. volume n. 總量，總數
The volume of waste produced in the city is increasing every year.
這座城市的垃圾總量每年都在增加。
5. obligation n. 義務，職責
Sean agreed to help, even though he didn’t think of it as an obligation.
尚恩同意幫忙，雖然他不視此為義務。
6. parcel n. 包裹
Please write your name and address on the parcel.
請在包裹上寫下你的名字和地址。
Practical Phrases
1.call it quits 停止做，終止
The two businesses couldn’t reach an agreement, so they decided to call it quits.
這兩家公司無法達成協議，因此決定終止合作。
2. on top of. . . 除了……之外
On top of being expensive, the hotel had terrible service.
這家飯店除了價格貴之外，服務也很糟糕。
3.put an end to. . . 結束∕停止……
The new law will put an end to illegal street vendors.
這項新法律將停止非法街頭攤販的活動。
聽文章朗讀及講解: https://ivy.pse.is/455bfu
本文出自常春藤解析英語雜誌: www.ivy.com.tw
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