Cuba presents Linux-based operating system.

The state informatics university launched an updated, Cuban-designed operating system based on the open-access Linux software.

The commercial arm of the Universidad de Ciencias Informáticas presented version 3.0 of Nova Linux at the Informática 2011 fair in Havana, saying it will speed up Cuba's conversion to open-access software.

Cuba is planning to convert most of its IT operations to the new system this year. Beginning this year, all personal computers assembled by a Chinese-Cuban joint venture will be loaded with both Windows and Nova Linux. The use of Microsoft Corp.'s ubiquitous Windows system has been hampered by U.S. sanctions.

Emulating Microsoft Office, the UCI also developed a package of applications called Nova Escritorio. Other UCI products include Nova Servidores for servers, and Nova Ligero for mini laptops and small notebooks.