For many years, this global internet served U.S. interests, and U.S. leaders often called for countries to embrace an open internet or risk being left behind. But this utopian vision became just that: a vision, not the reality. Instead, over time the internet became less free, more fragmented, and less secure. Authoritarian regimes have managed to limit its use by those who might weaken their hold and have learned how to use it to further repress would-be or actual opponents.

Examples of these institutional arrangements are open-source platforms for software applications (such as Apache Hadoop, Nginx and Github), accessi-ble by digital and nondigital firms at zero cost. Many firms and developers use Github, an open-source re-pository of tools, software and application programs.

The Foreign Policy Strategy 2020–23 defines the basic principles for digital foreign policy and sets out the vision of a free, open and secure digital space.

an open-source software that seeks to provide a comprehensive sys-tem linking patient, provider and payer data.

The Open Data Barometer

WHAT ARE OPEN DATA

Using data to fight droughts, Namibia

Use open standards, open data, open source and open innovation: An ‘open’ approach allows for collaboration in digital DC and avoids duplication. Open source also supports scaling (Principle 3) and sustainability (Principle 4).

When an operator buys an end-to-end system from Nokia or Ericsson or Huawei, it also knows it can depend on that vendor to support the network when problems crop up. Not so with Open RAN deployments, where no single vendor is likely to claim responsibility for interoperability issues. Larger operators will likely be able to support their own Open RAN networks, but smaller operators may be reliant on companies like Mavenir, which have positioned themselves as system integrators.

into a movement called Open RAN (for ‘Radio Access Network,’ the portion of a cell network, like a cell tower, that connects a phone to everything else), the operators have begun forcing vendors to work with them to create open interfaces between components, split software and hardware functions, and develop more AI technologies to manage networks.

There is already much work being done. But we need to give these efforts a stronger push, througheducation, training, and, improving digital skills and literacy across the board; investing in infrastructure, for universal and affordable internet connectivity; and expanding access to data and digital public goods, including open-source software and digital utilities.

s a small country, a vital node in the international digital network, Singapore has always advocated a global architecture that is open, inclusive, inter-operable, and multi-stakeholder