Mexico's Open Source Journey: A David vs. Goliath Story of Government Transformation
Former high-ranking Mexican government official Federico González Waite shared his decade-long experience pushing open-source software adoption within the Mexican government. To cut costs, achieve IT sovereignty, and break free from proprietary software vendors, he led multiple projects, including building the national e-passport system and deploying large-scale communications infrastructure. Despite facing threats from giants like Oracle and resistance within the government, they made significant progress, but also faced setbacks, such as projects failing due to lack of sustained funding and changes in government leadership. He stressed that successful open-source transformation hinges on strong internal support and leadership commitment, along with continuous investment in talent development.