ITU Workshop on
“Bridging the Standardization Gap”
(Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 30-31 July 2012)
ICT Standardization Challenges in Laos
Ms. Phavanhna Douangboupha
Deputy Director of Cooperation Division,
Department of Planning, and Cooperation
& International Cooperation, LaoCERT
E-Mail: phavanhna@laocert.gov.la
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 30-31 July 2012
MPT Organization Chart
Minister
Vice Minister 1
Vice Minister 2
Assistant to Minister
Special Communication Department
Information Technology Department
Telecommunication Department
Posts Department
Planning and Cooperation Department
Financial Department
Inspection Department
Personal Department
Administration Office
Posts and Telecommunications Institute
Vientiane, Lao
People’s Democratic
Republic, 30-31 July
2012
ICT Research Center
Lao National Internet Center (LANIC)
E-Government Center
Contents
Factors
External Factors Regional
External Factors International
Internal Factors
Trends
Challenges
Steps Taken
Q&A
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 30-31 July 2012
3
Lao PDR
Some Factors
External Factors Regional
External Factors International
Internal Factors
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 30-31 July 2012
External Factors Regional
ASEAN Community
AIPO, 26th General Assembly, Article 87
“…harmonizing existing ICT-related laws and ICT
standards, with a view to setting up a common legal
framework for the e-ASEAN…”
ASEAN ICT Master Plan 2015
Digital divide; Integration
Strategic thrusts>
Economic Transformation>
Initiative 1.1: create a conductive environment
where business can grow leveraging ICT
Action: Develop a framework to facilitate
transparent & harmonized ICT regulations:
Harmonize regulatory practices and ICT standards
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 30-31 July 2012
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External Factors - ASEAN
ASEAN ICT Master Plan 2015
Strategic thrusts>
People Engagement & Empowerment>
Initiative 2.2: Ensure affordable ICT products
Action: Enhance implementation of mutual
recognition arrangements (MRAs)
Ensure that all technical standards are in the
ASEAN working language (English)
adopt common standards to reduce time-tomarket for ICT products
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 30-31 July 2012
6
External Factors Regional
Neighboring Country
E.g.
Joint Technical Committee on
coordination and assignment of
frequency along Lao-Thai, Lao Vietnam
and Lao-Cambodia common border
Importing Goods e.g. Telecom/ICT
equipment, terminal equipment
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 30-31 July 2012
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External Factors International
WTO
Membership requirements
Technical Barriers to Trade
International
E.g.
Integration
CLDR – Unicode Common Locale Data
Repository i.e. localization
ISO Standardization Certificate
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 30-31 July 2012
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Internal Factors
Importing Manufacturing Goods
Ensure People and Environment Safety
Quality
Consumer Protection
Resources & Infrastructure
Utilization of scarce resources
e.g. frequency spectrum
Country Visions and Developments
Poverty Reduction
Turning from Land-locked to Land-linked
Best practices
Regulations
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 30-31 July 2012
9
World Trends
Smart Society, Mobile IPTV & Smart TV
Mobile Platform & Cloud Computing
Wireless Infrastructure – 4G
Social Media & Contents
ICT Convergence
Security
Green ICT
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 30-31 July 2012
10
Global ICT developments, 2001-2011
100
Mobile-cellular telephone subscriptions
90
Individuals using the Internet
80
Fixed-telephone subscriptions
Per 100 inhabitants
70
Active mobile-broadband subscriptions
60
Fixed (wired)-broadband subscriptions
50
40
30
20
10
0
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Taken from: ITU Statistics (http://www.itu.int/ict/statistics)
: ITU World Telecommunication /ICT Indicators database
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 30-31
July 2012
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Internet, Mobile
•
•
•
•
PSTN (The Public Switched Telephone Network): 3 Operators
No. of Mobile Operators: 4
Mobile phone penetration is about 83% of Lao population
No. of ISP: 6
 ADSL (25,000 in 2011), 3.5G (HSDPA) (> 20,000 in 2011), WiMAX
Internet Penetration
•
8.1% of the total population is connected to the internet
Lao PDR Trends
Mobile Phone
Wireless Infrastructure – 3G
ICT Convergence
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 30-31 July 2012
Lao PDR
Some Challenges
and Some Steps Taken
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 30-31 July 2012
Some Challenges
Standardization
Human
Resources
Know How
Immediate
Term &
Short Term &
Long Term
Infrastructure
Resources &
Investment
Legal
Framework
(Policy &
Regulatory)
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 30-31 July 2012
Awareness
Collaboration
Information
Locally
Technology &
Changes
(rapid)
Regional
Maintenance &
Management
International
Some Challenges
Some Steps Taken
Information
Lao Standard Font by MPT
Localization - The National Standard Font, “Phetsarath OT”.
Working with Google
By Ministry of Industry and Commerce
Lao PDR Trade Portal
Infrastructure
 The expansions of Telecommunication Infrastructure; Improvement
of Transmission backbone – optical fiber, microwave, satellite
Law, Regulation,
Legal Framework
 Standardization Law (by Ministry of Science & Technology).
 Yet to have specific ICT standardization framework.
 Internet Management Decree
21st/03/2012 (MPT).
 The amendment of the Telecommunications Act
21st/12/2011 (MPT).
 Radio frequency law expects to be submitted for approval at the
end of the year 2012 (e.g. radio station; facility sharing - BTS
Tower, fiber)
Know how,
Awareness, Human
Resources
 Cooperation (e.g. ITU, TTA of Korea), Training, Information Sharing
 Posts & Telecommunication Institute
International
Integration
 Working with e.g. ITU, ASEAN, KCC of Korea, etc.
Budget and Financial
Constraint
Cooperation, Assistance from international Organization e.g. ITU
Priority Areas e.g. focusing Telecommunications Standardization
activities
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 30-31 July 2012
References:
Department of Telecommunication.
National E-Government Center of Lao
PDR, MPT.
Lao National Internet Center, MPT.
Department of Planning and Cooperation.
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 30-31 July 2012
16
THANK YOU
Q&A
Website:
Contact:
http://www.mpt.gov.la
email: phavanhna@laocert.gov.la
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 30-31 July 2012