OSSpolicy - An information and communications technology framework based on open source software for developing countries

Open source is the future model for delivering IT and even companies like Microsoft are moving towards open source community. Open source software contributes in meaningful ways to the economic development of a country. However, while many countries worldwide have already embraced open source solutions, the trend has remained to a large extent, a phenomenon for the developed economies. This paper proposes an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) framework with concrete policy measures, for individual users, companies and developers, that can help boost the use of open source software in developing countries and hence leverage the benefits inherent in such software to create sustainable development and support local technology innovation. The proposal is supported by results from a survey that was carried out in 2011 in Mauritius, a developing country, where responses were gathered from 100 respondents which include policy makers, people from the industry and academia, and students.