Major Open-Source Migration Completed
The German state of Schleswig-Holstein has successfully transitioned from proprietary Microsoft systems to open-source solutions for government email and calendar functions. This comprehensive six-month migration replaced Microsoft Exchange and Outlook with Open-Xchange and Mozilla Thunderbird, covering more than 40,000 mailboxes and over 100 million messages and calendar entries.
Strategic Move Toward Digital Sovereignty
Digitalization Minister Dirk Schrödter emphasized that this transition represents more than just a technical upgrade. “We want to become independent of large tech corporations and ensure digital sovereignty“ he stated. The migration affects approximately 30,000 employees across state ministries, judiciary, police, and other authorities, marking a significant step in the state’s broader digital independence strategy.
Pioneering Open-Source Implementation
According to the official announcement, this project represents one of the largest open-source migrations worldwide. Minister Schrödter praised the collaborative effort, noting that “there is hardly a comparable project of this magnitude worldwide” and extended sincere thanks to all employees who supported the complex transition.
Comprehensive Open-Source Strategy
This email migration forms part of Schleswig-Holstein’s broader initiative to replace all proprietary systems with open-source alternatives. The state has been working with open-source vendors including Nextcloud and previously rolled out LibreOffice as the default office suite to replace Microsoft Office. The successful implementation of Open-Xchange positions the state as a model for other administrations considering similar transitions toward open technologies.
European Trend Toward Open Technologies
Schleswig-Holstein’s move aligns with a growing trend among European government agencies moving away from proprietary software solutions. The state’s experience and knowledge gained from this migration – from data analysis to data center monitoring – will now serve to support other administrations on similar paths toward technological independence and digital sovereignty.
