National ICT Action Master Plan to bring. Equitable, affordable access must be a non-negotiable goal of a Connected Malawi. It is intended therefore, to provide a direct international connectivity/cable to Lilongwe landing site from Dares Salaam on Sea cable with a redundant route to the West Africa Sea cable through Lusaka, Zambia. This facility can support redundant service route for Malawi and also serve as a 2nd cable landing station for the nation. 4.6.2 Open Government Data Generally, information becomes more valuable as it is shared and less valuable when it is not easily accessible. E-Government Department recognises that the Internet is the public space of the modern world. Conversely, the Internet allows citizens to participate more fully in government. E-Government Department will put attention to making appropriate public data available in a standardized electronic format for public consumption. This initiative is expected to increase civil discourse, improve public welfare, and provide more efficient use of public resources. E-Government Department will take the necessary steps to ensure that the public data, which is not subject to valid privacy, security or privilege limitations, as governed by other statutes, can be easily found, used, cited and understood. This move serves to encourage transparency and democratic control, civil participation, improved and new private products and services, innovation and Governmental efficiency. In order to do so, certain guidelines will be followed, according to clearly defined principles for open government as detailed on the website resource (http://www.opengovdata.org/home/8principles). 4.6.3 Free / Libre / Open Source Software (FLOSS) Free / Libre / Open Source Software (FLOSS) refers to any software that provides users with the ability to run a programme and access its source code, for viewing, distribution and or modification, free of charge. It is E-Government Department’s intention to have an alternative to proprietary software and extend 66