Open-Source Software Opens New Windows to Third-World

GNU/Linux, and tons of useful software
that comes along with it, is clearly attracting interest from a
range of quarters. From Pakistan to the UNDP, from Africa to
Malaysia, and even in the Philippines or Thailand and Nepal,
GNU/Linux is being closely watched, studied and adopted in a range
of interesting experiments.Created and propagated largely by volunteers, most of
GNU/Linux's growth simply isn't based on giant billion-dollar
spinning corporations that have the resources to promote its cause.
So, such success stories from the Third World could largely go
unnoticed.In large parts of the world where the average per capita
income is often less than the cost of a computer, the current
phenomenal price of software turns millions into "pirates". In
these parts of the globe, words such as free or low cost are not
necessarily associated with low-quality, but offer to include
millions who otherwise would be simply left out in the cold.Because GNU/Linux is open source, there are no mountains of
secrecy blocking replicability. So prices of the same fall to a
point which is dramatically low compared to proprietary software
and thus affordable to the millions.For instance, a couple of hundred thousand copies of
GNU/Linux have been distributed across India, through local popular
computer magazines, at a price of just around $2. That includes
both the cost of a slick magazine and CD. This software can, of
course, be legally copied across as many computers as
needed.This being the case, is it surprising that there are
interesting stories coming from varied corners of the Third
World?From Pakistan--Low-Cost ComputersPakistan Ministry of Science and Technology advisor Salman
Ansari says that some 50,000 low cost computers are to be installed
in schools and colleges all over Pakistan. These will be PII
computers, each being sourced for less than $100 a piece, he
says.Proprietary software for these PCs would cost a small
fortune. Surely more than what the computers cost. But, using
GNU/Linux ensures that the overall prices are kept low. Pakistan is
seriously considering the use of StarOffice office as well, saving
thousands of rupees over using more expensive and wholly
proprietary office software."Don't be surprised if we become the first country in the
world to say that all (government-run) services are going to be
GNU/Linux based," Ansari says enthusiastically.In Africa tooIn Africa too, GNU/Linux is making its impact felt. Dakar
(Senegal)-based Pierre Dandjinou is ICT-D Policy Advisor for
Africa. Says Dandjinou: "At one point, we got an idea to set up an
Open Source Foundation for Africa. We are working on it."He points to discussion list to discuss open source. South
Africa's network is perhaps the most popular among the continent.
Dandjinou, as ISOC (Internet Society) chairman for Benin, was able
to organise a conference on this subject. UNDP has been
experimenting with such technologies since 1994."Can African citizens be paying for all the proprietary
software stuff?" he asks.Besides, SNDP, the Sustainable Network Development Programme,
which is a network promoted by the UN, itself uses Linux in some 47
countries worldwide.But Dandjinou says: "I don't feel the cost (alone) is an
issue. Of course, if you compare (the price of Open Source or Free
Software products) with what we've been paying by using proprietary
software packages, we have been paying really a lot of dollars. But
more than price, what matters is the application development. The
idea of the openness should be kept there. Openness and sharing...
these are great values in themselves."M. Thierry Hyacinthe Amoussougbo, the coordinator for the
Cisco regional academy in Benin, says that enthusiasm about
GNU/Linux is high, even if there are still practical problems in
implementation.Part of the problem is due to lack of technical skills to
spread GNU/Linux sufficiently. Besides, the widespread predominance
of pirated versions of proprietary operating systems makes the need
for innovation and study of options a low-priority. "Everybody says
let's go over to open source. But on the ground, it takes time to
get started. It is being used by some, but is yet to be widely
used," Amoussougbo admits."Linux is used for many servers. We too want to promote it
and establish more Linux-based servers. But what moves on the
ground level is still Microsoft... maybe without respect to
copyright though," says Amoussougbo.Spat in MalaysiaIn Malaysia, in end-March, the Kuala Lumpur newspapers
reported a verbal spat between the global software giant Microsoft
and the fledging-but-influential Open Source movement in that
country.Tabloid daily The Star reported in its
issue of March 26 that Microsoft (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd had "fired its
first salvo against the Open Source movement in Malaysia" with an
article sent out through its electronic newsletter and posted on
its web site.This article, "Not Quite an Open and Shut Case"
(www.microsoft.com/malaysia/business/articles/linkpage3866.htm) was
signed by Microsoft Malaysia managing director Butt Wai Choon. It
argued that open-source software was "a threat to the commercial
software industry". The Star, a popular
Malaysian daily, noted however that the article "sounded familiar
to a speech given by Jim Allchin to US lawmakers in Washington just
a bit more than a year ago".The Star also noted that in the last few
months, both the Malaysian National Computer Confederation (MNCC)
and the Association of the Computer and Multimedia Industry of
Malaysia (Pikom) have formed "special interest groups" devoted to
the Open Source movement. MNCC is the national body of computer
professionals, while Pikom is the industry trade
association."Both bodies have announced or are considering initiatives to
create greater awareness amongst business and government, of the
benefits of using and adopting open-source solutions," reported
The Star in an article by A. Asohan.Unnamed industry sources were also quoted saying that one or
two Malaysian government or semi-government bodies are studying the
feasibility of developing Linux--the Unix-based operating system
that many consider the flagship of the OSS charge--into a "national
operating system" like what's being undertaken with China's Red
Flag project.MNCC's member and security consultant Dinesh Nair was quoted
saying: "In my opinion it [the article] indicates a growing concern
that open source may be a threat to them locally." Nair also leads
the technical sub-group of the MNCC's Open Source Special Interest
Group."Only Mr. Butt can answer for certain [about the article's]
timing... but it is true that at this moment in Malaysia, there is
substantial interest in open source in both the private and public
sectors," another MNCC-OSSIG member Dr Nah Soo Hoe, told the
newspaper."Open source can be a threat to the commercial software model
as practised currently by companies like Microsoft. Obviously, if
you cannot charge a lot for your software, or hold users to ransom
for upgrades and repeated purchases, you will tend to lose a lot of
money if your business model is based on just this," he
added.But he went on to point out that it was possible to have a
changed model that does not "rely so much on the actual purchase of
software, but rather on the services needed to achieve the
functionality the software offers, then whether you charge for the
software is "not so important anymore", Dr Nah noted.He said his fellow MNCC-OSSIG members believe that the open
source model can in fact be a critical element towards making
projects like Malaysia's ambitious Multimedia Super Corridor a
success. The MSC is an ambitious ICT (Information &
Communications Technology) initiative planned by the Malaysian
government, to attract leading global companies to locate their
multimedia industries alongside Kuala Lumpur). This dedicated
corridor stretches 15km wide and 50km long, between the giant
Petronas Twin Towers and the hi-tech Kuala Lumpur International
Airport.Open-source software, they argue, is even more important for
a developing country like Malaysia."Access to source code will encourage and promote local
capacities for software modification and redistribution," Dr. Nah
was quoted as telling The Star in its special
in.tech supplement (star-techcentral.com)."It promotes an environment for technical and systems
development, as well as the ability to learn, innovate and invent,
while stimulating the local software industry. More importantly, it
promotes independence from foreign software companies and reduces
an outflow of funds from the country," he added.Speaking to visiting participants of an UNDP/APDIP-organised
Africa-Asia Workshop on ICT for Development, Ng Wan Peng a senior
manager at the Multimedia Superior Corridor at Cyberjaya, the new
township being built alongside Kuala Lumpur, says the Malaysian
government is "very open" concerning using open-source
software."We're considering using open source. What really matters is
the total cost of ownership, including the other costs that come
along with it. Wherever possible, we would like to use it," says
Peng.In other ways too, Malaysia is giving open-source and free
software a close look. Take the case of MIMOS (www.mimos.my), the
Malaysian Institute of Micro Electronic Systems, which is intended
to grow into a premier R&D powerhouse in this South-East Asian
country."MIMOS has lots of our programmes running on open source,"
says Dr Raslan Bin Ahmad of MIMOS Berhad. MIMOS is one of the key
pillars in taking this country towards becoming a K-society and
K-economy (based on knowledge) and turn into a 'developed country'
by the year 2020.In its e-world section, MIMOS showcases projects like its
attempt to build a low-cost PC that is "affordable to everybody".
This computer is based on GNU/Linux and and is expected to cost far
less than what it costs to buy a PC in the market."Infoniti" ("infinite" plus "information") is being built up
as a handy web device "that makes accessing the web as easy as
using a TV or VCR". Both inexpensive and friendly to use, this
device would, hopefully, "cross the digital divide separating
computer phobics from computer literates". Its promoters say it
aims to help "all Malaysians" improve their quality of life through
the "power of information".Philippines and ThailandSays Emmanuel Lallana of the E-ASEAN Task Force based in
Manila: "It makes sense to use open standards and open source. We
don't want to get locked into proprietary software. You can use
Open Source also because it's cheaper. Why pay for an operating
system and office suite, when you have people giving it out for
free?"In Thailand, the ambitious SchoolNet experiment--an
initiative that seeks to provide universal access to teachers and
students in schools in that East Asian country -- also taps into
the power of GNU/Linux.It has developed a Linux School Internet Server (Linux SIS)
to be promoted and distributed to schools "as a cheaper alternative
to using an expensive server software"."Since its introduction, Linux-SIS has been very popular in
Thailand due to its excellent documentation in the Thai language,
its simple-to-install CD-ROM and web-based server management
without the need to know UNIX commands," says Dr Thaweesak 'Hugh'
Koanantakool, director of Bangkok's National Electronics and
Computer Technology Centre (NECTEC).SIS training courses are always in constant demand from
schools looking for a reliable Internet server at the "lowest
cost", says he. (More information on the Linux-SIS is available at
www.nectec.or.th/linux-sis/
) Some of the pages are in the Thai language.South Asian ShcoolsNews reports have recently focused on GNU/Linux initiatives
in classrooms from different corners of the globe.Of particular interest are those coming up from the Third
World. Including Ganesha's Project in Nepal, a plan using donated
machines and open-source software like Linux, in a move to cut the
costs of acquiring software licenses for "an already impoverished
school system".In Goa, a former Portuguese colony on the west coast of
India, after struggling for years to get discounts from Microsoft
software for use in their schools, the Goa Schools Computers
Project (GSCP) got a windfall. Red Hat offered not just a chance to
reproduce their software over any number of computers, but also
some training for school-teachers on the basics of GNU/Linux. Goa's
unit of the India Linux Users' Group has also volunteered to
support this project. (See the group overcoming their teething
trouble at
www.groups.yahoo.com/group/gscp
or visit the
background details of the project.)Goa is one of India's smallest states (population 1.35
million; area 3700 sq.km). But this small experience showing what
can be done inspired other GNU/Linux networks in other parts of
India, where some groups are rather active, particularly in the
bigger cities.These are all significant ventures. Some are small; others
are more ambitious. But there are lessons for everyone who can
emulate and adapt some of these interesting ventures from all
across the Third World.

email: fred@bytesforall.org