Information technology is changing the way governments, businesses and educational institutions provide services. It has revolutionized networks across borders and cultures, promoting new opportunities for economic and social development. But there are barriers to entry for new users as access to ICT is severely limited in developing countries due to high costs. Developing countries have to contend with priorities such as health care, food, shelter, electricity and basic economic priorities amidst other challenges: expensive communication infrastructure, applications and computer hardware.

Open Source presents itself as an access solution for developing countries. It represents an opportunity for these countries to adopt cheaper software and solutions toward bridging the digital divide . It represents an alternative to purchasing expensive software and applications from monopolies.

Open Source software also refers to applications and operating systems whose source codes are open for other parties to review, comment, refine, and add to. Anyone can take it, understand how it works and use it without asking for permission. Very often this model includes a “bug reporting” process and is often quoted as a good model whereby resilient software is produced. This open concept allows further customization of the software to users’ needs. The pre-eminent GNU/Linux is an example of such an open source operating system. The GNU/Linux uses the GPL or General Public License, which guarantees that the source codes will remain "open."

The terms "Libre" and “FLOSS” have come to be used in the Open Source and Free Software communities. The term Libre generally has to do with concepts of freedoms and how that relates to software. FLOSS, or Free/Libre Open Source Software, takes into account both the Open Source and the Free Software movements. IOSN encourages all forms of software that transcribe into affordability and quality.