GLOBAL INDICATORS WORKSHOP ON COMMUNITY ACCESS TO ICT

1. 16-19 November 2004 Mexico City, MEXICO “ICT DEVELOPMENT AND THE USE OF INTERNET IN LAO PDR” Presented by Singthong Khamone Deputy Director Telecommunication Division Department of Posts and Telecommunications Ministry of Communications, Transports, Posts and Construction Vientiane, Lao PDR GLOBAL INDICATORS WORKSHOP ON COMMUNITY ACCESS TO ICT

2. Generality • Lao PDR is situated in the centre of South East Asia peninsula. • Total area 236,800 square kilometers. • The country extends approximately 1,000 km at its longest length in the North West to South East direction. • Population is approximately 5.5 million. • Vientiane Capital has population about 500,000

3. ICT Industry in Lao PDR • The ICT Industry in Lao PDR was established in 1980’s. • ICT Industry has not much developed, due to the small computer user market. • Early stages, ICT was limited to small computer stores. • The current ICT Industry in Lao PDR divided in 4 sector categories: Computer retailers (50); ISP(6); Education(6); Wireless Network Solutions (1).

4. General Data of Public ICT Application • Geographic Area 236,800 sq km • Population 5.5 million • Total Fixed Telephone 86,236 lines • Total Mobile Telephone 250,279 subscribers • Tele-density 6.11 per 100 people • Internet dial up users 2,443 lines • ADSL 58 users • IP Star 38 users

5. Statistic of Telecommunication ServiceSource: Ministry of Communications, Transports, Posts and ConstructionSeptember 2004

6. Statistic of Internet ApplicationSource: Science, Technology and Environment AgencySeptember 2004

7. ICT Development in Lao PDRPresent Situation • ICT situation in Lao PDR is only primary stage. • Requirement for the Management and Operation Government Machinery. • Telecommunication and Postal Network having the capacity to transmit data. • Few Institutions undertake application research and development of ICT. • Computer Hardware and Software are imported.

8. Internet Growth • High interest of using Internet among the educated people. • Laotian secondary and post secondary youth are also aware of the Internet. • The number of Internet Cafes is growing. They first sprung up to serve tourists but are increasingly attracting curious Laotians. • The Lao Government increasingly recognizes that Internet is important for social economic development. • The ascension of Lao PDR to the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1997 has also been a boost to the Internet. ASEAN has a number of projects that call for countries establishing Internet connectivity.

9. Barriers of Internet access and use • Low income of the population • The price of equipment is high • Telecommunication infrastructure is lacking in rural and remote areas • Website in lao content is very few available • Low levels of IT literacy and English language • Awareness of the Internet is not high among most of the population

10. Problems to be solved • Lack of coordination in ICT from all side (Government, donors and private sectors) • Lack of standards (Lao character set) • Software and Hardware standardization • Lack of knowledge capacity • Lack of ICT Management Strategy • Telecommunication Infrastructure cannot support high speed information access

11. Future Plan • Policies for encouraging ICT Development (National ICT Policy and Strategy, ICT Master Plan, Cyber law and other legislation related to ICT). • Development ICT Infrastructure (Optical Fiber Network, Research and Development of Hardware and Software). • Implementation in administrative service work (Government Intranet System). • Set up National ICT Association and promote ICT investment from private sectors. • Human Capacity Building (Education and Training).

12. Cooperation Program • We are willing to participate in various ICT programs and activities of regional and international organizations. • Changing and developing manpower. • Enhance ICT cooperation in regional and international partnerships. THANK YOU