1. ICT Standardization Challenges in Laos
ITU Workshop on
“Bridging the Standardization Gap” (Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, July 2012)
ICT Standardization Challenges in Laos
Ms. Phavanhna Douangboupha
Deputy Director of Cooperation Division,
Department of Planning, and Cooperation
& International Cooperation, LaoCERT
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, July 2012

2. MPT Organization Chart
Minister
Vice Minister 1
Vice Minister 2
Special Communication Department
Information Technology Department
Telecommunication Department
Posts Department
Financial Department
Inspection Department
Personal Department
Administration Office
Posts and Telecommunications Institute
ICT Research Center
Lao National Internet Center (LANIC)
E-Government Center
Assistant to Minister
Planning and Cooperation Department
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, July 2012

3. Contents Factors Trends Challenges Steps Taken Q & A
External Factors Regional
External Factors International
Internal Factors
Trends
Challenges
Steps Taken
Q & A
What will cover today are the followings:
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, July 2012

4. Lao PDR Some Factors External Factors Regional
External Factors International
Internal Factors
Let’s firstly consider some of the factors including regional, international, and domestic factors
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, July 2012

5. 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
1./Please allow me to quote one of the article at AIPO, 26th General Assembly, where Article 87 said (quote) “The Assembly, recognizing that the digital divide among ASEAN countries, if not timely addressed, could result in further widening of the development gap within ASEAN, urged AIPO Members to make efforts in passing new laws in ICT and harmonizing existing ICT-related laws and ICT standards, with a view to setting up a common legal framework for the e-ASEAN.” (unquote)
2./MPT represents Laos at the TELSOM+TELMIN, in the ASEAN ICT master plan 2015
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, July 2012

6. 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-to-market for ICT products
Continue on ASEAN ICT Master Plan 2015
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, July 2012

7. 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
By department of Telecommunication, MPT
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, July 2012

8. 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
Taken from WTO:
According to the WTO TBTA Article 2 (Preparation, Adoption and Application of Technical Regulations by Central Government Bodies);
Where technical regulations are required and relevant international standards exist….Members shall use them….as a basis for their technical regulations. (§2.4); or
Where international standards exist or their completion is imminent, the standardizing body shall use them, or the relevant parts of them, as a basis for the standards it develops. (Annex 3/F)
* Annex 3 : Code of Good Practice for the Preparation, Adoption and Application of Standards
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, July 2012

9. 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, July 2012

10. 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, July 2012

11. Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 30-31 July 2012

12. Internet, Mobile Internet Penetration
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, July 2012

13. Lao PDR Some Challenges
and Some Steps Taken
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, July 2012

14. Some Challenges Standardization Human Resources Know How
Immediate Term &
Short Term & Long Term
Infrastructure
Resources & Investment
Legal Framework
(Policy & Regulatory)
Awareness
Information
Technology & Changes (rapid)
Maintenance & Management
Collaboration
Locally
Regional
International
1./Likewise with many developing countries, there are many challenges in general which some of these we have taken some steps to address the issues.
2./we have to continue on human resource development and set plan for immediate term, short term, and long term 3./Infrastructure – we need to further develop infrastructure as according to our government plan to turn from land-locked to land-linked as per the government socio-economic development plan
4./Awareness – continue to address the awareness challenges; how to make and use the Standards; how to support the standardization system by the government;
5./Collaboration - and we need to learn from ITU, TTA, and other countries for the best practices
- Many standards – different companies
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, July 2012

15. Lao Standard Font by MPT
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
1./Despite the fact that MPT had just recently been established as the ministry officially; we are aware that we have many challenges to continue to address.
2./26 September, 2011, Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications.
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, July 2012

16. 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, July 2012

17. Q & A THANK YOU Website: http://www.mpt.gov.la
Contact:
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, July 2012