Free Software in Developing Countries Vital to Future Prosperity and Good Governance: UNU Technology Experts

Naoko Yano, United Nations University

8/01/2008
(Original Publish Date: 3/15/2006)

The growth of free, open-source software presents developing countries with an opportunity to escape from technological dependence on developed countries, but also a challenge to build up local expertise, United Nations University experts say. Open source software, which includes the freely-shared Linux operating system, represent a phenomenon changing the information technologies world in fundamental ways. And developing countries can't afford to be left behind in these fast-moving global trends, says Mike Reed, Director of the UNU International Institute for Software Technology (UNU-IIST), based in Macao, China. Today, 50 to 75% of Internet activity uses open source software; eight of the world’s 10 fastest supercomputers are powered by Linux; open source software is embedded in everything from mobile phones to video recorders; and Linux is managing functions critical to industries from banking to telecommunications.