FYI ---------------------------- Original Message ---------------------------- Subject: [FOSS-PDI] Korea Plans Linux-Only City & University From: "Philipp Schmidt" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Mon, February 20, 2006 2:14 pm To: "FOSS - Policy and Development Implications" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOSS news from Korea. Best, P Begin forwarded message: > http://htdaw.blogsource.com/post.mhtml?post_id=250609 > > ROK Plans Linux-Only CIty & University > > Saturday, February 18, 2006 at 2:01 PM EST > The Korean government plans to select a city and a university late > next > month where open-source software like Linux will become the mainstream > operating programs. > > The Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC) Wednesday revealed > the scheme of building up the city and university, which will > operate as > test beds for the open-source programs. > > ``We will start to receive applications next week. After screening > candidate cities and universities, the test beds are likely to be > decided by late March, MIC director Lee Do-kyu said. > > Lee said that the project will be kick-started just after the decision > of the city and university, toward which end the ministry earmarked > 4.1 > billion won for this year alone. > > ``Already many universities and local governments have shown > interest in > the project. We expect big-sized entities will join it, he added. > > The selected government and university will be required to install > open-source software as a main operating infrastructure, for which the > MIC will support with funds and technologies. > > In the long run, they will have to migrate most of their desktop and > notebook computers away from the Windows program of Microsoft, the > worlds biggest maker of software. > > ``The test beds will prompt other cities and universities to follow > suit > through the showcasing of Linux as the major operating system without > any technical glitches and security issues, Lee said. > > The open-source software refers to an emerging operating system > alternative to the closed-door Windows program of Microsoft, which has > flat-out ruled the global market thus far. > > The underlying source codes of the new-type software are basically > open > to the public so that programmers from across the world can upgrade > them > continually, the strength that the proprietary Windows lacks. > > The attempt to create a Linux city is not a first. Munich in Germany > plans to deploy Linux and open-source packages on its 14,000 PCs in > place of Microsoft office automation suites and operating system. > > Other cities and governments also look to embrace various open-source > software, which represents freedom and flexibility by nature, to save > costs and increase efficiency. > > Korean Move to Linux > > In fact, Korea is not a world leader in adopting Linux and other > open-source programs. > > Currently, less than 1 percent of desktop PCs are based on Linux in > Korea, much lower than the global median 3 percent. For servers, Linux > accounts for about a fifth of the market here. > > The Korea IT Industry Promotion Agency wants to increase the rate to 5 > percent for desktop PCs and 40 percent for servers by 2010. > > ``In order to become a genuine software powerhouse, Korea has no > choice > but to secure source technologies. We cannot achieve the goal under > the > command of dominant closed-source programs, said Ko Hyun-jin, > president at the state-backed agency. > > To do so, the government will stage a campaign to use Linux. Korea > Post, > the nations postal service provider, last year embarked on a four- > year > program to install a Linux-based operating system on 4,748 PCs in its > 2,800 branches. > > The Ministry of Planning and Budget plans to launch 37 state > informatization projects with Linux this year, which would cost > approximately 80 billion won. > > A new online information system for schools, dubbed the National > Education Information System (NEIS), also fixed Linux-empowered > platform > on its 2,331 servers. > > The government hopes the test-bed plan will mark a watershed for Linux > by playing a pivotal role in further boosting the standing of the > open-source program here. > > ``The Linux city and university will be leading the way in bringing > software flexibility to the whole country at a lower cost to the > public, MIC director Lee said. > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > 02-15-2006 17:49 > > http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/tech/200602/kt2006021517494311780.htm > -- _______________________________________________ FOSS-PDI mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.apdip.net/mailman/listinfo/foss-pdi FOSS-PDI is a joint initiative of Bridges.org (www.bridges.org); FOSSFA (www.fossfa.net); OWSA (www.oneworldsouthasia.net, www.digitalopportunity.org); UNDP/APDIP (www.apdip.net); APDIP/IOSN (www.iosn.net); UNESCO (www.unesco.org). regards _______________________________________________ LUG mailing list [email protected] http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug %LUG is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/ The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any way. ---------------------------------------
