YaTTI
Imagine trying to build a global railway system where each country uses different track widths, incompatible signals, and unique coupling mechanisms. Chaos, right? That’s exactly what the digital world would be without standards and protocols.
Standards are the agreed-upon rules for how technology should work—like deciding that web pages use HTML or that email follows SMTP protocols. They’re the reason your Indonesian phone can call an American one, why your Chrome browser can read websites made for Firefox, and how a document created on Windows opens perfectly on a Mac.
When standards are truly open, magic happens:
Closed or pseudo-open standards create digital colonialism—where those who can afford licenses prosper while others are locked out.
True openness isn’t just about publishing specifications. A genuinely open standard must be:
The complete specification is available to anyone, anywhere, without registration, fees, or legal agreements. You shouldn’t need a corporate email or credit card to learn how something works.
No patents block implementation, or all essential patents are licensed royalty-free. This is the difference between “you can read how it works” and “you can actually build it.”
Decisions happen in public forums where anyone can participate. Not in closed boardrooms where only the powerful have voices.
The same terms apply whether you’re a solo developer in Medan or Microsoft. No special deals, no preferential treatment.
Once open, always open. No risk that someone will later demand payment or restrict access.
The Web (HTML, CSS, JavaScript): The W3C ensures these remain royalty-free. Result? Anyone can build websites, create browsers, or develop web apps. Indonesia’s thriving tech startups exist because the web’s foundation is truly open.
Email (SMTP, IMAP, POP3): Open protocols mean you can choose any email provider and still communicate with everyone. Imagine if email only worked between Gmail users!
The Internet (TCP/IP): The protocol that connects the world is completely open. No company owns the internet because no company owns these standards.
Video Codecs (H.264, HEVC): Reading the spec is free, but implementing it requires paying patent pools. This is why some open-source software can’t play certain videos—they can’t afford the licenses.
Some “Open” APIs: Companies claiming their APIs are “open” while requiring special partnerships or limiting access. True openness doesn’t have VIP lines.
Open standards are especially critical for developing nations and emerging economies:
At YaTTI, we believe:
As a Developer: - Choose truly open standards for your projects - Contribute to open standards development - Share your implementations freely
As an Organization: - Demand open standards in procurement - Participate in standards bodies - Release your innovations under open standards
As a Citizen: - Support policies requiring government systems use open standards - Understand that “open” has many definitions—ask which one - Advocate for digital rights that protect true openness
Open standards are the difference between a digital world owned by a few and one that belongs to everyone. They’re the foundation of digital democracy, the enabler of innovation, and the guarantee that tomorrow’s technology will be accessible to all.
In Indonesia, where 280 million people are rapidly going digital, the openness of standards isn’t just a technical issue—it’s about whether we’re building a future of digital independence or digital dependence.
Choose open. Choose freedom. Choose the future where everyone can build.
True open standards don’t just permit innovation—they invite it.
YaTTI
