The Open Source Cyber Cafe

Africa and Asia are now two of the biggest emerging markets for the ICT industry. They also happen to be the places where there is more boot leg software and software piracy then anywhere else in the world.

Without condoning this in any way, there are good reasons why this is the case. There is a tendency to think that hardware is where the main costs are in terms of technology investment but in fact its the accumulated software licenses that cost more. Hence all the boot legging and piracy in the developing world!

Recently in a high profile swoop a number of cyber cafes in Nairobi were shut down because of this. The big software companies are putting pressure on developing world governments to clamp down on piracy with the promise of investment in their countries if they do.

Its awful to watch this happening. The cyber cafes do not make much money as it is a highly competitive market (mind you not any more in Nairobi...) and they are essential entities for getting the word out about the potential use of technology in the developing world. To see small businesses like this closing because of the 'bigger' needs of multi-national companies actually sickens me.

The volunteers in the hub here have come up with a great idea to tackle this problem. They have developed an Open Source Cyber Cafe (with its own timing, network management and billing system) and have a model of it running in the workshop here. You can use Open Source software for free if it is being used for educational purposes so the plan is to create a series of Open Source Cyber cafeteria's across Mombasa whose revenue supports the educational dimensions of the Digital Hub.

The international airport here in Mombasa does not have a cyber cafe so that is their first target!

The Hub will also become a center of excellence for Open Source training and support and so that also has the potential to generate revenue for its sustainability.

These ideas are in the early stage but it gives me real confidence that enterprise opportunities will emerge from the initiative which will not only bring in revenue to sustain the Skomara Digital Hub but will also transform peoples lives in a positive powerful way.

Given what they have done here in three months I cannot wait to see what they have done in a years time!