Shuttleworth strengthens our cause

ADSL South Africa (Broadband South Africa), 7 November 2006

Mark Shuttleworth urged attendees of GovTech2006 to decide on a ICT strategy to best position South Africa for success in the technology arena.

Well known South African entrepreneur and CEO of the Shuttleworth Foundation is clearly fighting on our side in his push to make technology work for all South Africans. He cited South Korea, well known for its nuclear ambitions, as one of the emerging countries that's using reformist methods to transform its country. Not in terms of developing nuclear weapons but broadband to expand its economy while moving towards the overall utilizing of open source software. He also cited Spain that's integrating technology into education by means of using free software. He also didn't fail to mention China who's pushing to put all government procurement onto Linux by the year 2010.

Shuttleworth stressed the importance of four key points in developing an ICT strategy:

• Skills development  - "...SA must place an increased emphasis on technology in education, needing to increase its capacity to produce high quality IT skills" (Shuttleworth).

• Use of free or open source software - "...A strong commitment to free, open source software in education provides a better fit between the process of education and the framework around the open source software movement" (Shuttleworth).

• Bandwidth and regulation of telecommunications  - "...countries that have been successful in this respect have adopted a multi-strategy approach. Developing countries like SA also need to take the rural market into consideration and put different structures into place for each different market level. The emergence of wireless technologies will change the local landscape, as well as VoIP, which is now legal in this country despite some constraints" (Shuttleworth).

• Building a sustainable commercial infrastructure in order to increase competitiveness .

Making achievable commitments is according to Shuttleworth one of several steps the South African government needs to take. In other words, SA government needs to wake up to reality in time to save us from humiliation  on the world stage.

He concluded his address to attendees by stressing the importance of an increase in education's ability to produce graduates which are comfortable using free software. This will empower them to choose the best tool for the job.

ADSL South Africa (Broadband South Africa) welcomes Shuttleworth's clear headed address which without doubt strengthens our cause to lower the exorbitant telecommunications costs in South Africa.