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.

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