THE EGM ON ICT DEVELOPMENT AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENHANCING COOPERATION FOR REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY BANGKOK, 22-24 NOVEMBER 2010 ICT Development status in Lao PDR By: Mr. Chaleun Sibounheuang National Authority of Post and Telecommunications
CONTENTS I. ICT Policy and Regulation in Lao PDR II. III. IV. Telecommunications Network and Market Structure Frequency Spectrum Management 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 OBJECTIVE To increase the deployment of national telecommunications infrastructure especially in regional and remote areas; To provide a financially viable telecommunications sector conducive to sustainable investment in telecommunications infrastructure by the private and public sector as well as aid agencies; To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of telecom service delivery to end users; To cost effectively satisfy end user demand for telecom services at affordable prices; and To strengthen regulatory capability and skill sets within Government so as to ensure a high standard of sector governance 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) Cabinet office Dept. Posts Dept. Telecom and Internet Dept. Planning & Cooperation Institute of P&T NAPT Provincial Division/ Office
The NAPT is responsible for the day-to-day regulation of the telecommunications and ICT sector including licensing, the regulation of frequency spectrum, numbering and electronic addressing, technical regulation and unlawful use of telecommunications networks. The NAPT may direct a licensee to comply with the provisions of the Law, licences or other subordinate Instruments The NAPT may, with the approval of the Minister, issue regulations and/or notifications on any matter specified as being subject to the NAPT s regulations and/or notifications 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 subcribers 160000 140000 135,676 120000 100000 80000 60000 40000 20000 90,806 93,786 95,867 97,768 99,413 0 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 as of Sept 2010
Mobile subcribers 4500000 4000000 3500000 3000000 2500000 2000000 1500000 1000000 500000 0 657,528 1,450,100 1,230,030 2,022,133 2,677,405 3,819,929 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 Internet NAST : National Authority of Science and Technology
TOTAL NUMBER OF INTERNET LINE 20000 18000 16000 14000 12000 10000 8000 6000 4000 2000 0 17,486 15,631 13,376 5,487 4,051 4,638 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 ASSIGNMENTS Bands 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 band In 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 band 2.5 GHz (2500 2690 MHz) 3.5 GHz (3400 3600 MHz) Assigned Freq Bandwidth Licensee Remark 2500 2518 MHz 18 MHz LX Internet Paired Frequency 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 3400 3450 MHz 30 MHz Sky Tel 3455 3485 MHz 30 MHz NAST E- Govt. project
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