1. 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

2. CONTENTS
I. ICT Policy and Regulation in Lao PDR
II. Telecommunications Network and Market
Structure
III. Frequency Spectrum Management
IV. Summary

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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.

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

7. 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.

8. II. Telecommunications network and Market Structure

9. 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

10. Fixed lines subcribers
160000
135,676
140000
120000
97,768 99,413
100000 90,806 93,786 95,867
80000
60000
40000
20000
0
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
as of Sept 2010

11. Mobile subcribers
4500000
4000000 3,819,929
3500000
3000000 2,677,405
2500000
2,022,133
2000000
1,450,100
1500000 1,230,030
1000000 657,528
500000
0
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
as of Sept 2010

12. Current market share

13. 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

14. TOTAL NUMBER OF INTERNET LINE
20000
17,486
18000
15,631
16000
13,376
14000
12000
10000
8000
5,487
6000 4,051 4,638
4000
2000
0
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
as of Sept 2010

15. 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.

16. 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

17. 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)

18. 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