After Danish cities, Germany's Schleswig-Holstein state government to ban Microsoft programs at work

Time of India

19 hours ago

Microsoft exit Germany is making headlines as the state of Schleswig-Holstein becomes the first in Europe to completely ditch Microsoft tools like Teams, Word, Excel, and Outlook in public offices. Instead, the state is switching to open-source software like LibreOffice, Linux, and Open-Xchange to gain digital sovereignty and reduce reliance on U.S. tech giants. With 30,000 public workers already moving and 30,000 teachers to follow, the move aims to cut long-term costs and control data locally. As EU regulations tighten and political tensions grow, this digital shift could spark a major trend across Europe.
Germany's Schleswig-Holstein ditches Microsoft for open-source tools like LibreOffice, Linux, and Open-Xchange to gain digital control, lower costs, and end reliance on U.S. tech. This bold move may inspire a wider European shift toward digital independence.
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Why is Schleswig-Holstein breaking up with Microsoft now?
LibreOffice is replacing Microsoft Word and Excel
Open-Xchange is taking over Outlook for email and calendars
Plans are underway to replace Windows with the Linux operating system
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Is digital independence the real goal here?
Are costs driving the move away from Microsoft?
Will this shift be smooth for government workers?
Are other governments also ditching Microsoft tools?
France's gendarmerie (about 100,000 personnel) has been using Linux for years.
India's Defence Ministry introduced its own operating system, Maya OS, in 2023.
Local governments in Copenhagen and Aarhus in Denmark are reportedly exploring similar options.
The EU's Interoperable Europe Act, passed last year, actively encourages open-source software use across public bodies.
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Is this the beginning of a wider shift in Europe?
FAQs:
In a bold digital transformation move, Germany's Schleswig-Holstein state is cutting ties with Microsoft. Within the next three months, civil servants, judges, and police officers across this northern state will no longer use Microsoft tools like Teams, Word, Excel, or Outlook at work. Instead, the state government is shifting completely to open-source software, aiming to achieve what officials call 'digital sovereignty' and to reduce reliance on U.S.-based tech giants.Digitalisation Minister Dirk Schroedter made the announcement on a video call using an open-source platform—not Microsoft Teams—and declared, 'We're done with Teams!'The shift began in 2023, but it's now gaining momentum. Out of the state's 60,000 public servants, half—about 30,000 employees—will be fully transitioned to open-source tools in this first phase. The rest, mostly schoolteachers, will follow gradually.This isn't just about software. It's about control over sensitive data. Schleswig-Holstein wants to stop depending on U.S. companies for its digital infrastructure, especially amid rising geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and EU, and concerns about surveillance, data ownership, and monopolistic practices.Yes. According to Schroedter, the aim is to 'take back control' of the state's digital operations. He cited concerns over "digital dependencies"—especially in light of how Europe realized its energy dependencies during the war in Ukraine. Now, digital infrastructure is being seen through a similar lens.The state also plans to move all data storage away from Microsoft servers to German-owned cloud infrastructure. This aligns with broader European efforts to protect user data and public sector IT operations from foreign control.Partly. The cost of Microsoft licenses and mandatory software updates has long been a financial burden for many governments and organizations. Benjamin Jean, from the consulting firm Inno3, told AFP that many feel 'taken by the throat' when forced to pay unexpected fees just to keep software up to date.By contrast, open-source alternatives not only offer more transparency and flexibility but also come at a lower long-term cost. Schleswig-Holstein officials estimate this transition could save tens of millions of euros in the years to come.That's the tricky part. Any major software change risks user resistance, especially if employees aren't trained or supported properly. Francois Pellegrini, an IT professor at Bordeaux University, warned that without guidance, people may simply want to revert back to what they know. Change is always tough—especially on this scale.There's precedent too. The city of Munich once led an open-source revolution but reversed course in 2017 due to political pressure and integration issues. So while Schleswig-Holstein's vision is ambitious, it'll need to navigate this change carefully.Absolutely—and not just in Germany. This move from Schleswig-Holstein is part of a growing global trend:Schroedter said his team has already received international requests for guidance, showing how closely this digital independence movement is being watched.It's starting to look like it. The European Commission is already investigating Microsoft over antitrust concerns related to how it bundles Teams with its Office suite. These developments, combined with increasing political tensions and data privacy concerns, are pushing more public institutions toward open, transparent, and locally controlled software ecosystems.For Schleswig-Holstein, this isn't just a tech update—it's a signal to the world that digital sovereignty is now a priority. Whether other states and countries follow will depend on how smoothly this transition goes and whether the benefits—financial, political, and technological—prove worth the effort.To cut costs, protect data, and gain digital control using tools like LibreOffice and Linux.LibreOffice, Open-Xchange, and Linux are replacing Microsoft's Office, Outlook, and Teams.