You are here: silicon.com > Software > Operating Systems

Operating Systems

Cuba gripped by open source fever

Long live the revolution!

Tags: cuba, open source, linux

By Richard Thurston

Published: 19 February 2007 14:55 GMT

The Cuban government is to migrate thousands of its computers to open source software, in a move that distances the communist nation from US-based Microsoft.

Several Cuban government ministers backed the move at a technology conference held late last week. Communications minister Ramiro Valdes gave a pro-open source opening keynote, while Richard Stallman, head of the Free Software Foundation, told the conference proprietary software is inherently insecure.

A Cuban academic, Hector Rodriguez, is supporting the migration to open source by heading up a development programme within one of the largest Cuban universities. Cuba's customs service has already migrated to Linux, while the ministries of culture, higher education and communications are planning to do so, Rodriguez told the conference.

But Rodriguez, quoted by the Associated Press, declined to say how long it would take for the Cuban government to migrate most of its systems to Linux. "It would be tough for me to say that we would migrate half the public administration in three years," he told the conference.

The number of Cuban open source users is growing fast, with around 3,000 in a country which struggles with outdated PCs and slow internet links.

Other governments, including Brazil, China, Norway and Venezuela, are evaluating a partial or total migration from Windows to open source. Many city administrations are also running projects. In Europe, programmes in Amsterdam, Bristol and Munich are well underway.

Richard Thurston writes for ZDNet UK

  1. Zones
  2. Management
  3. Networks
  4. Software
  5. IT Services
  6. Hardware
  1. Verticals
  2. Public Sector
  3. Financial Services
  4. Retail & Leisure

for IT White Papers Newsletter


  • Jobs
Lead Technician- Windows (MCP, MCSE, MCSA)

If you would like to be part of a vibrant working culture, and feel you possess the skills and qualities we are looking for, send your CV in today ...

Technical Architect (Open Source), Berkshire (optional home working)

My Client, a leading Consulting Company based in Reading is seeking a Technical Architect who is capable of working across multiple projects to join ...

Migration project DBA Specialist - Contract - London City

Migration DBA Specialist - Contract - London City A contract role with a tier 1 investment bank, this project is one of the largest, and highest ...

CIO50 2008
The silicon.com CIO50 2008 profiles the most influential and innovative tech chiefs in the UK across all industries and organisation size, from the biggest FTSE100 companies to high growth dot-com start ups and the public sector. The list was voted on by the UK CIO community and a panel of experts. Find out more in our latest special report.





Quick Sitemap Links: