Regional Workshop on KnowledgeRegional Workshop on Knowledge--hubs in Asiahubs in Asia--Pacific RegionPacific RegionNanjing, China, 8Nanjing, China, 8--10 September 200910 September 2009

Telecenter Development in LaosTelecenter Development in Laos

Mr. Phonpasit PHISSAMAYMr. Phonpasit PHISSAMAYDirector GeneralDirector General

Information technology Research InstituteInformation technology Research InstituteNational Authority for Science and TechnologyNational Authority for Science and Technology

OutlineOutline

• Laos facts (ICT)• Telecenter initiatives• E-Government Project• Conclusion

Laos FactLaos Fact• Total population 5.62 Million• Rural population 69 %• GDP per capita USD 850• Literacy rate 85%• Tele-density 28 %• Telephone lines per 100 inhabitants 2.59• Cell phone subscribers per 100 inhabitants 25.4• Computers per 100 inhabitants 1.7• Internet users per 100 inhabitants 2.3• Internet hosts per 10,000 inhabitants 0.022• Internet cafes per 10,000 inhabitants 0.71

First Telecenter Project in LaosFirst Telecenter Project in Laos• Name: E-Way• Location: Luang Prabang Province (UNESCO Heritage City)• Funded by: International Development Research Center (250,000 $)• Implemented by: National Authority for Science and Technology• Objective:

– Internet access for the Local communities people– Computer and English training center– Content creation and distribution for the Local communities

• Service Operation:– 2003-2005: Participate Development Training Center (Local NGO)– 2006: Science and Technology Provincial office Luang Prabang– 2007: Stop operation and give the equipment to school.

Barriers of eBarriers of e--WayWay• High cost of Internet connection (400$ per month)• Ownership • High salary for the Telecenter manager and staffs• Low participation from the local communities people• Low income generation

we could not make the e-way sustainable operation, but we very glad to see the ICT growth in the province:

More private Internet caféMore computer training schoolsMore local people using Internet for communication

Rural Telecenters ProjectRural Telecenters Project• Funded by: Government of India (500,000 USD)• Location:

– 7 centers in 7 provinces along Mekong river (3 local administration, 2 schools and 2 Public-private)

– 3 centers in Vientiane Capital (ministry of public health, agriculture and rural development authority: (www.telecentter.gov.la and www.talath.gov.la )

• Objective:– Information provider (floating, agriculture, healthcare, community project and etc) – Support the distribution of local products

• Service operation:– 2006: installation and training for the Center operator– 2007: Self operation by the Telecenter operator with the project subsidized for

the Internet connection until December 2008. The status in 2009• Public-Private Telecenter still continue the operation • Local administration reserved for Internal use only• School has converted to training room and disconnected from Internet

Barriers of Rural TelecenterBarriers of Rural Telecenter

• Still high cost of Internet connection (400$ per month)• No income for the local administration and school

Telecenters, while public-private make great income from tourism business.

• Content are poor and not regular update by the content provider in Vientiane.

• Telecenter is lack of its own program to make the equipments more useful.

ee--Health Center ProjectHealth Center Project• Funded by: Asia Development Bank (500,000 USD)

• Location: 8 Hospital and 8 Healthcare centers in two provinces

• Objective:– Healthcare Information provider (www.health-Center.gov.la) – Create the Database for hospital and healthcare center

• Service operation: Project just started in 2009 and schedule to completed by 2011.

National ENational E--Government ProjectGovernment Project

• Establish the e-Gov service center (1+16)• Establish the e-Gov infrastructure• Computerization government offices

(130+160+250)• Development e-Service application (7)• Human Resource Development

(40+300+900+3000)

(35 millions, 2007-2009)

National ENational E--Government InfrastructureGovernment Infrastructure

Data CenterApplication

Servers

Data CenterData CenterApplication Application

ServersServers

7250 T5C7250 T5C7250 T5C

Vientianetransmission

2.5G SDH

VientianeVientianetransmissiontransmission

2.5G SDH2.5G SDH

Edge RoutersEdge RoutersEdge Routers

N GEN GEN GE

STM 1STM 1STM 1

STM1STM1STM1

LAT NationalBackbone

LAT NationalLAT NationalBackboneBackbone

Core Routers7750 SR7

Core RoutersCore Routers7750 SR77750 SR7

Edge RoutersEdge RoutersEdge RoutersWIMAXWIMAXWIMAX

WIMAXWIMAXWIMAX

WIMAXWIMAXWIMAX

VientianeVientianeVientiane

STM1STM1STM1

• 2.5 Gbps backbone between NAST-MOD•155 Mbps OFC connecting to 51 ministries offices in Vientiane•2 Mbps ADSL connecting to 28 ministries office in Vientiane

•• 2.5 Gbps backbone between NAST2.5 Gbps backbone between NAST--MODMOD••155 Mbps OFC connecting to 51 ministries offices in Vientiane155 Mbps OFC connecting to 51 ministries offices in Vientiane••2 Mbps ADSL connecting to 28 ministries office in Vientiane2 Mbps ADSL connecting to 28 ministries office in Vientiane

FEFEFE

16 Governor offices 16 E-gov provincial

service centers

16 Governor offices 16 Governor offices 1616 EE--gov provincial gov provincial

service centers service centers

FiberFiberFiberLayer 2 SwitchLayer 2 SwitchLayer 2 Switch

25 district and 160 provincial divisions25 district and 160 25 district and 160 provincial divisionsprovincial divisions

WIMAXvWIMAXvWIMAXvMWMWMW

200 Village Offices 100 VIP houses in Vientiane

200 Village Offices 200 Village Offices 100 VIP houses in Vientiane100 VIP houses in Vientiane

WIMAXWIMAXWIMAX Dial-Up/ISDNDialDial--Up/ISDNUp/ISDN

OFCOFCOFC

EE--Gov applicationGov application

• National e-Gov Portal (www.laos.la)• E-Archive• E-Document• E-Registration• E-Map• E-Learning• Teleconference

ConclusionConclusion• In country such as Laos, with so many pressing basic development

needs, it is not surprising that attempts at establish Internet connectivity and E-business have been hampered by a general lack of skills and resource, Low levels of PC penetration, combined with poor telecommunication network with also slow the process.

• There is currently a high level of interest in ICT development in the country. ICT implementations and strategies, and the allocation of resources, from the government, donors, and the private sectors,towards ICT development are reflected in existing ICT related projects focusing on human resources development, governance, administration, and information management.