The Current Growth of E-Government Development Project in Laos and some of its Challenges

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1 The Current Growth of E-Government Development Project in Laos and some of its Challenges Presented By Ms. KESONE SOULIVONG Enterprise of Telecommunications Lao (ETL) Laos

2 I. Laos in Brief Laos is a land-locked country in the heart of Southeast Asia. The country is surrounded by 05 countries: China in the north, Cambodia in the south, Vietnam in the east, Myanmar in the northwest and Thailand in the west. Laos has land area 236,800 square kilometers with 5.6 million people with an annual growth of 2.8% and about 85% of its population live in rural and remote areas. There are 18 provinces with 142 districts and villages. Vientiane is a capital city of Laos. More than 90% of its population is Buddhism. Lao is an official language of Laos, however, English and French are used as business languages. Laos has only one political party The Lao People s Revolutionary Party. II. The Current IT Status in Laos 1). Telecom Operators: Currently, there are 05 telecom operators in Laos which 02 of them are 100% State- Owned Enterprises: Enterprise of Telecommunications Lao (ETL) and Lao - Asia Telecommunications State Enterprise (LAT), 01 Joint-venture Company: Lao Telecommunications Co.,Ltd (LTC) and 02 Private Companies: Millicom Lao Co.,Ltd (TiGo) and Sky Telecom Co.,Ltd. 2). Types of Services: Since the telecom system has been changed from monopolized system to competitive system, there are new various types of services have been introduced to the users by applying new and high technologies as telecom trend in the global markets have been improved and developed rapidly. The mobile phone market in Laos is blooming significantly as its competition is high particularly in price reduction. Therefore, the 1

3 number of mobile phone users are increased from numbers in 2000 to numbers in 2007 for both Post Paid and Pre Paid systems. Moreover, the fixed phones are also increased as business in Laos in all sectors are improved and developed in positive trend such as the number of internal and external investors from various sectors are significantly increased. Therefore, there are numbers of fixed phones have been used including fixed phones in CDMA system. At the same time, the internet users are also increased from 350 users in 2000 to users in There are various types of high speed internet such as HIL and ADSL. Domestic and international Leased lines are one of the most popular in Laos due to its number is increased to 569 users which ETL is the leader in providing leased line service in Laos. Moreover, there are many different services have been introduced to its users including Internet Dial Up, IP Star, Internet Net Card, Wireless Internet, Rural Telephone, Facsimile, SMS,VMS, GPRS, IR (International Roaming), International Calling, content service and etc. 3). The Development of IT Network: - The IT network has been established in every province particularly in big cities and towns in order for making facilities to its people in all working sectors such as government organizations, private companies, international organizations and etc. - The number of IT users have been increased significantly in all sectors as local area network has been developed in order to meeting with its growth. Moreover, the number of computers have been increased in all sectors especially in government organizations. For example, in Vientiane Capital 25 government organizations have 2456 computers or 37% of its employees and/or 3 employees for 1 computer. 2

4 - Every ministry has established its own IT network and linking with other concern ministries and organizations. - Telecom operators have completed to establish Optical Fiber Lines from North to South of Laos particularly linking Optical Fiber Lines through every city and town. It means that every main city and town has internet network particularly in business areas including in rural and remote areas. III. The Current Growth of E-Government Development Project in Laos - National Data Center is established in order for linking all of its projects with other concerned organizations - ministries to ministries, departments to departments, companies to companies from cities to provinces such as National Bank of Laos has completed to establish e-banking by installing IT network to all banks in Laos including state-owned enterprise, private and joint-venture banks. - National University of Laos has established e-learning programs in various subjects in order for opening more opportunities to the students. Moreover, all colleges have internet lines which the students can access into its school website any time and anywhere or making course registration online. - E-Transport has been established by linking through a computer network in order for facilitate data access such as vehicle registration, issuing driving license, driving license testing on line and so on. - National ID-Card under the Ministry of Public Security has completed electronic citizen ID card system. - E-Commerce is implemented in various ways for serving the needs and wants of its people such as purchasing and selling products on line, booking air tickets and etc. - Moreover, E-Treasury, E-Procurement, E-Post, E-Tax, E-Inventory and Control and some other E-Government Projects have been prepared and would be able to serve to the people shortly. 3

5 IV. The E-Government Development Policy 1). Building hardware infrastructure for connecting to all ministries, departments, Provinces, districts and villages. 2). Reforming and automating of its internal processes of government departments and integrating of its applications across all tiers of administration for forming the back end system for implementation of E-Government Project. 3). Developing of citizens oriented applications for all government functions of the country having public interface. 4). Building its capacity for facing with all of its challenges in ICT adoption and utilization. 5). Encouraging ICT usages in rural and remote areas. 6). Adopting participatory approach in implementation of the project by involving of all sectors. V. Some Major Challenges for ICT Policy and E-Government - Various E-Government Projects are formed at the same periods without considering its internal and external challenges and risks. - The commitments of all concerned people and organizations are not defined with clear objectives. - Lacking of IT standards relating to hardware and software as same as lacking of computers particularly limited purchasing power both in public and private sectors. - People including government employees, private and international employees have a chance to use internet only in working hours. Therefore, the number of home computer users are not increased comparing with the growth of IT network because the price of internet is still high. - Only 2% of internet users have accessed into its national information. - About 85% of its population live in rural and remote areas with only 0.1% know-how to use internet and computer. 4

6 - Lacking of motivation in middle level management and operational staff of government. - Lacking of indigenous expertise in formulation, implementation and maintenance of national ICT strategies and policies. - Having poor monitoring system in all of its E-Government Projects. - Having inadequate power supply and telecommunication infrastructures. - Lacking of requisite software and content in local language. - There are many gaps exist for all E-Government Projects between its design assumptions and/or requirements and the reality of the client public agency. Therefore, the larger of its gaps between design and reality, the greater the risk that the project will fail. VI. International Cooperation Projects with Korea or other Neighbor Countries in ICT and E -Government Areas - Laos has strengthened its cooperations with many countries in order for improving and developing its E-Government Projects successfully including its closely cooperation with the South Korea by exchanging the knowledge and experiences in E-government Projects together. - As Laos has become GMS ( The Greater Mekong Sub-region Information Superhighway Network) member, ICT network has established through 06 countries (China, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos) in order for building strong ICT network in these regions. Therefore, Laos has very good cooperations with those countries in terms of developing its ICT sector more effective. - Laos has very good cooperation with Indian government in terms of enhancing ICT sector including cooperation in E-Government Projects such as many staff from concerned ministries and departments are sent to study and train in ICT sector in India for both short and long term programs which are offered by India on the basis of full funding support under Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC) and the Technical Cooperation Scheme (TCS) of Colombo Plan

7 VII. Conclusion - As there are various components of E-Government Projects are needed to implement in order for enhancing Laos role in ICT development for strengthening the conditions for sustainable socio-economic growth. Therefore, many different of E-Government projects are planned together at the same time. - However, each project should be prepared and implemented step by step by selecting the most important issue to perform, for example, ICT network should be established throughout the country. - Moreover, some areas are needed to improve and develop such as high quality of ICT staff are still low in terms of the knowledge and experiences, marketing and promotion are needed to focus on creating brand awareness of the online presence and choosing the right media to promote about the E-Government Projects. Sources: - Science Technology and Environment Agency (STEA), Yearly Report of E- Government Projects in Laos. - Ministry of Communication, Transport,Post and Construction Department of Post and Telecommunication. 6

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