Title: Pakistan's OSS strategy Singapore Asia OSS forum, November 2003
1Pakistan's OSS strategySingaporeAsia OSS
forum, November 2003
- Salman Ansari
- Advisor
- Minister for Information Technology
2Acknowledgement..
- International OSS community and the extensive
materials on the web - Special thanks to Fred Norhona and his wonderful
bytes for all and Mohammed Sabzwari (Founder
LPI and CEO of Ants Consulting) in Pakistan - The ever growing OSS community in Pakistan
3Objectives and Goals
- Decrease dependence on proprietary products
- Decrease deployment costs for education and the
government - Address the issue of IPR effectively
- Increase know how of core software development
- Create local language on Linux OS Kernel
4State of deployment of OSS
- Education
- Government
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Embedded product development
- ATRC, ANTS, PLUC, PING
- LPI under formation (www.lpi.org.pk)
5Initial steps..
- Awareness created
- Technology Resource Mobilization Unit forms Linux
Task force - Strategy, Seminars and planning
- Linux Mandated for all government Servers
- Federal government Budget ca. US 1 M for Linux
development - Projects for US 3 Million
6What Needs To Be Done (In Pakistan)
- Create Linux Expertise
- Technical Support
- Solution Providers and Consultants
- Software Developers
- Create Standard Linux Solutions For Pakistani
- Home Users
- Small Businesses
- University and School Computer Labs
7Dual Track approach
- Negotiations with Microsoft
- Development of OSS base
- Universities
- Networks
- Embedded software
- Language development
- Coordinating Resource Center
8What We Are NOT Trying To Achieve
- We are not abandoning the commercial software
- Linux has tons of commercial software also
- Lots of open source software that is available
for Linux is also available for commercial
operating systems - Support for native language does not mean we
abandon the computer in English that would be
counter productive - We are only ADDING Linux/OSS to our National IT
Strategy
9Plan of Action
- Integration with University courses
- Training and specialized programs funded by the
government - Linux Resource Center
- Local Language software being funded
- Software for Vertical markets
10Plan of Action
- Thin Client Thick Server applications to be
developed for low cost deployment - Reconsider the use of old computers in LANS
running thin clients - LPI Certification
- Pakistan Linux Steering Group proposed
11What is still missing and needs addressing (in
Asia)
- Asia-wide support version
- User friendly installation of OS and Desktop
- Communications / Connectivity
- User friendly software for Content Management
- Customisation for different verticals
- Setting up hotspots in public domain areas
12e-campus for Linux
Linux Pakistan Portal One-stop Access Point
Student Testing and Certification
Administrative Services, Newsletter, Forums
Universal Access to Labs
TTT Center and e-Learning Facilities
Vendor Support e.g.IBM
Vendor Support e.g.IBM
Publicity Campaigns
Library and Publications
Deployment Management and Support Services
IT Infrastructure Management Distribution
Asset Management
13Embedded Linux IP Phone
- Comcept, Pakistan
- IP Telephone
- Dial Up LAN Connectivity
- Transparent Configuration and Authorisation
- Smart Card Localization and Account Management
- Integrated All In One Solution
- Scalable Platform
14Typical ITSP Network
ITSP DATA CENTER
CPE
ISP POP
CORE
NetConnect 1000
Feature Servers
FRWL
Call Agent
IP MPLS Traffic Eng NetworkTRIP BGP PeeringQOS
Support
CA
USA
SS7
Service Creation
GW
Service Activation
Switch
IXC
Brazil
Product Catalog
Inventory
Fulfillment
Billing
TG
Sales Automation
Trouble Management
POTS
PSTN Toll TandemE911 Tandem
15Asia OSS forumTo encourage knowledge/data/soft
ware sharing
- Need a Central repository of tried, tested stable
and Supported Business OSS - House this in Mimos, Malaysia like Organization
or on multiple mirrored sites - Better interoperability Office, Accounting and
ERP applications - Anti-virus data base
- Fear of Trojans from Big Brother governments in
standard AV SW
16Asia OSS forumTo establish permanent
infrastructure for OSS development and support as
well as other related activities
- Asia OSS can form a central on-line support
with members chipping in - Similar to IBM and other large companies
- Bring Linux into mainstream computing
17Asia OSS forumTo update status of OSS
development from each of the participating
countries
- Assistance needed with KDE/Gnome Urdu
- Significant progress has been made for Chinese,
Japanese and Indian Tamil. - Collaborate with India to bring out an Urdu
version - Create repository of drivers
- Set up support for Open Office in case SUN backs
off its support in the future - Improve interoperability
18Thank you!