Power to Change: FOSS in Papua New Guinea
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This document discusses the potential of free and open source software (FOSS) to help address digital divides and support economic development in developing countries like Papua New Guinea. It provides statistics showing large gaps between developed and developing nations in terms of technology access and use. FOSS is presented as a cost-effective alternative that can empower users, increase transparency, and support local capacity and culture. Examples of popular FOSS applications are given. The document recommends that PNG promote FOSS use through policy changes, education, industry development, and partnerships between stakeholders. It seeks to make the case that FOSS adoption could help PNG leapfrog development by taking a long-term, locally-driven approach to information and communication technologies.
Power to Change: FOSS in Papua New Guinea
- 1. The Power Free and Open Source Software for PNG to Change Prof. Dr. Victor van Reijswoud Divine Word University Anglo Pacific Research and Strategy
- 2. ICT 4 Development “ Information and Communication Technologies are a key input for economic development and growth. They offer opportunities for global integration while retaining the identity of the traditional societies. ICT can increase the economic and social well-being of poor people, and can empower individuals and communities. Finally ICT can enhance the effectiveness, efficiency and transparency of the public sector, including the delivery of social services.” (World Bank, 2002)
- 3. The Digital Divide ! The developing world had 4 times fewer mobile subscribers per 100 people than the developed world ! The developed world still had 8 times (was 73 in 1994) the Internet user penetration rate of the developing world ! There are roughly around the same total number of Internet users in the G8 countries as in the whole rest of the world combined ! The G8 countries are home to just 15% of the world’s population - but almost 50% of the world’s total Internet users ! The top 20 countries in terms of Internet bandwidth are home to roughly 80% of all Internet users worldwide.
- 4. Some figures Computer Use Internet Use (per 100 people) (per 100 people) Developing Countries 2.5 2.6 Least Developed Countries 0.3 0.2 Arab States 2.1 1.6 East Asia and the Pacific 3.3 4.1 Latin America and the Caribbean 5.9 4.9 South Asia 0.8 0.6 Sub-Saharan Africa 1.2 0.8 Central & Eastern Europe & CIS 5.5 4.3 OECD 36.3 33.2 High-income OECD 43.7 40 Computer and internet use in different regions (UNDP, 2006)
- 5. More figures Rank Country Access index Connectivity ICT diffusion index index 175 Solomon Islands 0.341 0.016 0.115 151 Papua New Guinea 0.393 0.021 0.207 135 Vanuatu 0.444 0.023 0.233 103 Fiji 0.521 0.078 0.299 15 New Zealand 0.832 0.478 0.655 9 Australia 0.807 0.589 0.698 Index for ICT Diffusion in the Asia-Pacific region United Nations 2007
- 6. The challenge for PNG ! Connect to the rest of the world ! Provide affordable access to ICT for all ! Build an ICT infrastructure with limited funds ! Keep recurrent costs as low as possible ! Have local ICT capacity available ! Support local culture
- 7. To get the financial picture Price of WinXP expressed in GDP/cap Months United States 0.19 European Union 0.32 Oceania 0.48 Caribbean 1.47 Latin America 1.55 Middle East 2.51 Asia 3.16 Africa 10.31 Papua New Guinea 11.93 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 GDP/cap Months Ghosh, R.A., License Fees and GDP Per Capita: The Case for Open Source in Developing Countries, First Monday, Issue 8-12, 2003.
- 8. Free and Open Source Software The Free and Open Source Software movement began taking serious shape in the early 90s. It shares the following fundamentals: – Free redistribution of software – Source code availability and distribution. To allow easy evolution and adaptation of programs – Explicit permission to modify the software and further redistribute derived works under the same license terms. – No discrimination against any group or persons. The USA has restrictions on certain cryptographic software.
- 9. Some examples - desktop Task Application Website Platfo rm Office productivity suite Open Office www.openoffice.org W/L Web browser Firefox www.mozilla.org W/L Email reader Thunderbird www.mozilla.org W/L Personal Information Chandler chandlerproject.org W/L Management (calendars, Evolution www.gnome.org L tasks, addresses, emails etc) Kontact www.kontact.org L Image Editing GIMP www.gimp.org W/L Desktop publishing Scribus www.scribus.net W/L Media player VLC www.videolan.org W/L Personal Database OOo Base www.openoffice.org W/L Accounting GnuCash www.gnucash.org W/L
- 10. Some examples – server Task Application Website Platf Customer Relationship SugarCRM www.sugarcrm.com W/L Management Document Management Alfresco www.alfresco.com W/L Financial Management SQL Ledger www.sql-ledger.org W/L Project Management Open Project www.projity.com W/L Gantt Project www.ganttproject.org W/L Enterprise Resource Planning CentricCRM www.centriccrm.com W/L (incl financial mgt) Adempiere www.adempiere.com W/L Knowledge management pbwiki www.pbwiki.com W/L Web Content Management Joomla www.joomla.com W/L Drupal www.drupal.com W/L Web Site Design NVU www.nvu.com W/L Quanta Plus quanta.sourceforce.net L Database MySQL www.mysql.com W/L PostgreSQL www.postgresql.org W/L
- 11. Recommendation of the ACS ...“open source software has the potential to increase competition, innovation and stimulate the Australian software development industry. It can represent a cost effective alternative to proprietary software and private and public sector procurement and evaluation processes should include assessment of both proprietary and open source alternatives.”
- 12. Hindrances for adoption ! Lack of information – There is no or little active promotion – Lack of awareness by educators ! Software availability – Not in the shops (except Boroko Foodworld) – Downloads are expensive ! Role models and examples – Who got rich of FOSS? – Where is it implemented?
- 13. Time for a change of policy ! Papua New Guinea needs a fundamental reorientation if it really wants to leapfrog development – Take a long term perspective – Develop locally driven ICT industry – Promote FOSS software solutions – Stop software piracy – Make internet accessible and affordable 4all
- 14. Stakeholders in the FOSS arena Donor community Softw industry Emphasise Softw industry ICT & global proprietary partnerships FOSS Use my Use my technology technology Government Central / Local Provide Civil society Train our access to young people ICT Open up Invest in ICT Education development global Local business secondary / tertiary economy community Local ICT industry
- 15. Some recommendations ! Government – Establish committee to investigate role of FOSS – Promote and use FOSS ! Donor community – Educate and guide computer users – Employ knowledgeable appropriate ICT advisors ! Education – Use FOSS – Educate awareness among new users
- 16. Questions? For a free electronic copy of the book: Free and Open Source Software for Development: exploring expectations, achievements and the future send email to: victor@anglopacificresearch.com vvanreijswoud@dwu.ac.pg