The Status of Stanadization of Lao Character Set Phonpasit PHISSAMAY Director of Information Technology Center Science Technology and Environment Agency

The IT element in Lao PDR 25,000 PCs, 70 LANs, 3 ISPs Less than 1% of population who have permenantly Used IT facilities Internet Users 32 IT Service Companies (21 Foreign share) 2 Advanced training, 6 Colleges and 14 Regular Not yet completed the National IT policy and Master plan

The Status of Lao Character Set Development In 1985: First Lao code table “Duang Jan” In 1992: STEA-Thailand develop the Lao Code Table for DOS-Based. In 1993: Many code table for Window based (Lao Script for Window) General System Company develop the Lao code table for IBM PC and AS-400, which encouraged department of Standardization to adopted as National Standard.

The Issue of Lao Character Set No harmonization and standardization of Lao code table among local developers The National Standard did not used by the users The ISO did not adopted the National Standard of Lao code table, but Lao character Set already existed with ISO and UNICODE

The problem resolution To get the compromise and consensus among local developer To create the National Project of Lao codepage –Do an assessment of ISO and UNICODE. Do they meet or need to be modifed to merge with Lao culture and local users demand. –Solving the current used code table –Develop the new code table based on new national standard.

Thank you