ICT Development status in Lao PDR

THE EGM ON ICT DEVELOPMENT AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENHANCING COOPERATION FOR REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY BANGKOK, 22-24 NOVEMBER 2010 ICT Development status in Lao PDRBy: Mr. Chaleun SibounheuangNational Authority of Post and Telecommunications

CONTENTSI. ICT Policy and Regulation in Lao PDRII. Telecommunications Network and Market StructureIII. Frequency Spectrum ManagementIV. Summary

COUNTRY PROFILE Capital Vientiane Area 236 800 sq km Population 5.7 million Urban population 30 % GDP per capita US$ 900 Currency Kip Telecom and Internet Fixed lines: 106106 sub. Mobile (GSM): 3 819929 sub. CDMA/WLL: 29570 sub. Teledensity: 67% Internet: 17 486 users

TELECOMMUNICATION POLICY OBJECTIVETo increase the deployment of national telecommunicationsinfrastructure especially in regional and remote areas;To provide a financially viable telecommunications sectorconducive to sustainable investment in telecommunicationsinfrastructure by the private and public sector as well as aid agencies;To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of telecom servicedelivery to end users;To cost effectively satisfy end user demand for telecomservices at affordable prices; andTo strengthen regulatory capability and skill sets withinGovernment so as to ensure a high standard of sectorgovernance and oversight of market participants.

I. ICT POLICY AND REGULATION IN LAO PDR Currently, Lao PDR’s telecommunications and ICT sector is regulated by the Law on Telecommunications 2001.In addition, the Decree on Trade Competition and the Decree on Organization and Operation of National Authority of Post and Telecommunications (NAPT) are also applicable. To provide effective governance and supervision of the telecommunications and ICT sector given global developments in telecommunications and ICT technologies and policies. A new draft Law on Telecommunications and the ICT has been developed which will replace the old legislation with a modern regulatory framework which recognises technology convergence, and consistent with global and regional standards. The draft new Law on Telecommunications and ICT has passed the internal approval and will submit to the National Assembly conference for adoption in March 2011.

ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE OF NAPT National Authority of Posts and Telecommunications (NAPT) Dept. Telecom Dept. Planning Institute ofCabinet office Dept. Posts and Internet & Cooperation P&T NAPT Provincial Division/ Office

The NAPT is responsible for the day-to-dayregulation of the telecommunications and ICTsector including licensing, the regulation offrequency spectrum, numbering and electronicaddressing, technical regulation and unlawful useof telecommunications networks.The NAPT may direct a licensee to comply with theprovisions of the Law, licences or other subordinateInstrumentsThe NAPT may, with the approval of the Minister, issueregulations and/or notifications on any matter specified asbeing subject to the NAPT’s regulations and/ornotifications under the Law.The NAPT may further issue regulations and/or notifications as it considers necessary.

II. Telecommunications network and Market Structure

Telecommunication Operators 1). Lao Telecom Co. Ltd (LTC): Fixed lines, Mobile telephone,Wireless Local Loop and Internet Service, International telephone 2). Enterprise of Telecommunications Lao (ETL) Fixed lines, Mobile telephone, Internet Service and, International telephone 3). Millicom Lao Co.Ltd (MLL) Prepaid Mobile telephone, Internet Service 4). Star Telecom Fixed lines, Mobile telephone, Internet Service

Fixed lines subcribers160000 135,676140000120000 97,768 99,413100000 90,806 93,786 95,867 80000 60000 40000 20000 0 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 as of Sept 2010

Mobile subcribers45000004000000 3,819,92935000003000000 2,677,4052500000 2,022,1332000000 1,450,1001500000 1,230,0301000000 657,528 500000 0 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 as of Sept 2010

Current market share

INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS No Company Services 1 Lao Telecom Co.Ltd Fixed, mobile and Internet 2 Enterprise of Telecom Lao Fixed, mobile and Internet 3 Star Telecom co.,Ltd Fixed, mobile and Internet 4 Millicom Lao Co.Ltd mobile and Internet (WiMax) 5 Skytel & Net Co.Ltd Internet (WiMax) 6 Plannet Co.Ltd Internet (WiMax) 7 LanexangInternet Co.Ltd Internet (WiMax) 8 NAST Internet 9 ChampalaoInternet Co.Ltd InternetNAST : National Authority of Science and Technology

TOTAL NUMBER OF INTERNET LINE20000 17,48618000 15,63116000 13,376140001200010000 8000 5,487 6000 4,051 4,638 4000 2000 0 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 as of Sept 2010

III. FREQUENCY SPECTRUM MANAGEMENT The NAPT is responsible for the overall management of spectrum and is empowered to develop a national frequency spectrum plan which may include the existing and planned frequency allocation and reservation, and the process for allocation and reallocation of the spectrum. The requirement to develop a frequency spectrum plan is designed to ensure the efficiency of spectrum allocations and compliance with relevant international conventions, standards and agreements.

SPECTRUM PLANNING AND ASSIGNMENTSBands used globally for commercial networks: GSM technology: GSM 900 MHz, GSM 1800 MHz, E-GSM CDMA technology: CDMA 800 MHz, CDMA 1900 MHz, CDMA 450 MHz 3G/ IMT-2000 : 1900-2200 MHz band, 2300-2400 MHz, 2500- 2690 MHz bandIn Laos Radio Spectrum for both main technologies like GSM, CDMA is granted GSM: GSM 900 MHz and GSM 1800 MHz Current assignment of spectrum 2x6 MHz/operator in GSM900 and 2x15 MHz/operator in 1800 MHz to facilitate their development and services GSM 850 MHz (824 – 849 / 869 – 894 MHz) : also 2x7 MHz granted to LTC CDMA : CDMA 800 MHz (824 – 849 / 869 – 894 MHz) and CDMA 450 MHz (450 – 457.5 / 460 – 467.5 MHz) GSM vs. CDMA in 800 MHz band

3G PLANNING AND ASSIGNMENTS 2.5 GHz band: 2500 – 2690 MHz 3.5 GHz band: 3400 – 3600 MHz Frequency Assigned Freq Bandwidth Licensee Remark band 2.5 GHz 2500 – 2518 MHz 18 MHz LX Internet Paired Frequency(2500–2690 MHz) 2672 – 2690 MHz 18 MHz LX Internet Paired Frequency 2520 – 2530 MHz 10 MHz Millicom TDD 2530 – 2550 MHz 20 MHz Millicom Paired Frequency 2650 – 2670 MHz 20 MHz Millicom Paired Frequency 2550 – 2580 MHz 30 MHz Planet 2585 – 2615 MHz 30 MHz Sky Tel 2620 – 2645 MHz 25 MHz Not yet 3.5 GHz 3400 – 3450 MHz 30 MHz Sky Tel (3400–3600 3455 – 3485 MHz 30 MHz NAST E- Govt. project MHz)

IV. SUMMARY 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 Assistance and consultancy on ICT development and Policy with other countries and International organizations are required to fulfill our objectives

ICT Development status in Lao PDR

by Lao Network Operators Group

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