Research WorkshopDaejeon University, 9 November 2012

ICT DevelopmentStatus In Lao

PDR

By Somphoun

OUTLINE

ICT in Laos Laos Overview ICT-History Current Services

Conclusion

Overview Laos

Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) is a small, landlocked country in Indochina, with China, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Thailand as its neighbors.

A large part of the country is mountainous and forested and has an abundance of natural resources.

Lao PDR was one of the last South East Asian nations to adopt the Internet and the country faces great barriers in Internet access and use.

Lao PDR is one of the poorest countries in Asia and still hasn’t satellite yet, just rent from Thailand.

It ranks 122 on the human development index, with 27% of the population living on less than one dollar per day.

Country Profile Country name : Lao PDR Capital city : Vientiane Mountain : 70% Population : 6,385,057 million Total Area : 236,800 Km2 Province :17 District :139 GDP :8.298 billion USD GDP Growth : 8.0 % GDP Per capital : 1,281 USD Inflation rate : 3.67% Religion : Buddhism Language : Lao Literacy : 85% Rural population :80% Currency : Kip access to electricity : 40% access to electricity through the national grid :50% generators or car batteries to generate electricity :10%

ICT in Laos history

Management History 1975-1980 Ministry of Posts and

Telecommunications 1980-1986 Ministry of Posts and Transport 1986-2007 Department of Posts and

Telecommunications (MCTPC). 2007-2011 NAPT (National Authority of Posts

&Telecommunications). 2011 MPT (Ministry Of Posts and

Telecommunications).

1994, a joint venture was established between the government and a Thai company, Shinawatra International Public Company Limited, called Lao Shinawatra Telecom Company Ltd (LST) to operate telecom services (Shinawatra 49%, Laos 51%).

30 years more will be ended the contract.

Now there are many Telecom companies or services

Lao Telecoms Company (LTC or LaoTel) 51% Lao Government; 49% Shinawatra 900 MHz GSM, and will have 1800 MHz in future 450 MHz CDMA for WLL and 800 MHz CDMA for

mobility Fixed lines, Mobile telephone, Wireless Local Loop and Internet Service, International telephone Fixed and international gateway facilities

ETL (Enterprise of telecommunications Lao 2000) Fixed lines, Mobile telephone, Internet service 100% State owned Owns aid assets from pre-LTC days Fixed and mobile (900 MHz GSM planned) Operates CSC cable connections to Vietnam and

Thailand

Millicom Beeline Prepaid Mobile telephone, Internet Service and,

International telephone 78% Millicom: 22% Lao Government 900 MHz GSM; 1800 MHz GSM in near future

Other new players: Lao Asia Telecom – GSM network owned by Lao

military Sky Telecom – CDMA 2000 1x EV-DO for WLL (Lao

Government key shareholder) Planet (internet provider) Unitel (officially opened 16th October 2009)

Internet Service Provider (ISP) Fixed lines, Mobile telephone,

Number of using

• ICTs: -Telecom and Internet Fixed lines: � 106106

sub. -Mobile (GSM): � 3 819929 sub. -CDMA/WLL: 29570 sub. -Internet: 17 486 users. -Number of websites in Lao languages: 297 -Number of websites in English: 660

-National transmission backbone:155 Mbps -International bandwidth : 1 Gbps

Proportion of percent

- Fixed line: 2.14%. - Mobile: 26.35%. Tele-density: � � 67%. - Internet: 0.12%. - Radio coverage: 80%. - TV coverage: 60%. -Telephone lines per 100 inhabitants : 2.59% -Cell phone subscribers per 100 inhabitants:25.4% -Computers per 100 inhabitants: 1.7% -Internet users per 100 inhabitants: 1.77% -Internet hosts per 10,000 inhabitants:

0.022% -Internet cafes per 10,000 inhabitants:

0.71%

Current Market share

BEELINE 15%

Conclusion

ICT in Lao PDR is under developing and a lot of works/efforts are needed for the successful of the development

We continue open up the industry to facilitate partnership and inward investment opportunities in order to play our part in the growth of the region.

Critical to this is not just capital investment but the transfer of skills and capabilities is so critical to development of sustainable ICT sector in Lao PDR.

Training and Capacity-building at all levels are necessary.

Reference

Lao National Internet Center, MPT. National E-Government Center of Lao PDR,

MPT. Department of Telecommunication. Department of Planning and Cooperation World Bank

THANK YOU