Internet project to wire up Lao students

Almost 1,300 schools nationwide will receive five years worth of free internet usage to assist students access a wider range of research materials.

Lao Star Telecommunication is providing US$3 million to support the Internet for Schools project, which will run from 2010 to 2015.

The project includes the provision and installation of internet equipment, such as ADSL, modem EDGE or 3G. Maintenance instruction and training courses will also be provided for school staff members.

Director General of the Ministry of Education’s Planning and Cooperation Department, Mr Sengsomphone Viravouth, said work on the project will commence immediately.

“We will start at upper level schools, followed by lower level and primary schools.

“It’s important to utilise technology to improve education. Access to the internet will allow Lao students to have more opportunities to improve their knowledge”.

Mr Sengsomphone believes installing the internet at all schools will also facilitate communication between education institutes. “This will boost work in the education sector,” he said.

Deputy Director General of Lao Star Telecommunication’s Finance Section, Mr Kongphet Nhongvongsithi said, “Our purpose is to help Lao students access the internet to find information which is needed for developing their knowledge and effectively connecting to the world.

“As we know, young people are the nation’s future and we’re proud to be able to contribute to building the nation’s future.”

Mr Kongphet said Lao Star Telecom runs a successful telecommunications business and has contributed to the development of Laos.

The company provides telecommunication services through mobile phones and the internet. “We’re a leading telecom company in Laos. We have 1,200 base stations, own 11,000 km of fibre-optic transmission cables and have more than 1 million phone subscribers, a major share of the market.”

Lao-Asia Telecom (LAT) was established in 2001. In 2002, LAT joined with other operators and launched PSTN & Mobile Services. In 2007, the company signed a joint venture agreement with Viettel Global (a member of Viettel cooperation) and established the Star Telecom Company. Last year, Star Telecom officially launched its new brand label ‘Unitel.’

A memorandum of understanding for the project was signed yesterday at the Ministry of Education’s office by Mr Sengsomphone and Mr Kongphet.

Source: Vientiane Times
By Keoxomphou Sakdavong