|
Telecom operator to launch 4G internet
Lao Telecommunications Company (LTC) will launch its high-speed 4G or WiMAX Internet network by the end of this year, aiming to become the main competitor in the telecom sector.
“We are currently installing equipment and carrying out tests, and asking the government for a licence,” LTC Deputy Director General Mr Chanthavone Sosamphan said, speaking on Friday at a thank you party for the company's dealers and partners.
LTC will initially install additional base stations in Vientiane, to roll out WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) this year, and will follow up with extra base stations in the provinces next year.
“WiMAX will be our only new project for next year,” Mr Chanthavone said.
In Vientiane, LTC will install four new base stations, with each covering 20 square kilometres. “Four base stations will be enough for Vientiane. In the provinces, we'll install mainly in the cities,” he said.
With its new product and services, the company hopes to attract more than 1,000 Internet customers at launch, including users of USB 3G wireless Internet modems. “Currently we have over 10,000 Internet users,” Mr Chanthavone said.
LTC will also expand or install more systems to accommodate the growing number of 3G subscribers. It is spending billions of kip on building 23 additional service centres nationwide this year.
“Each centre will cost 400 million to 600 million kip,” LTC Deputy Director General Phoukhong Chithoublok said in April at the opening of the 29th service centre at the Faculty of Engineering, National University of Laos.
LTC Director General Thongsay Sanexaya reported at the annual meeting recently that the company would invest about 155.4 billion kip (US$19.34 million) in services development and network expansion this year.
Developments will include expansion of mobile phone services with an additional 271 base stations, Internet, installation of transmission lines and fixed line facilities.
Last year LTC invested over 223 billion kip (US$27.7 million) in its network.
LTC hopes to attract a minimum of 400,000 new mobile phone customers this year, adding to its current 1.5 million customers.
“At present, we have 493 dealers, 319 partners and 37 bands that play songs exclusively on our mobiles,” Mr Chanthavone said.
LTC currently has over 1,500 base stations, including 288 3G stations, up from 900 mobile phone base stations and 58 3G stations in 2009.
WiMAX provides fixed and mobile Internet access. It is considered as a wireless backhaul technology for 2G, 3G, and 4G networks in both developed and developing nations. It can provide at-home or mobile Internet access across whole cities or countries.
LTC was established as a joint venture in 1996, with the Lao government holding a 51 percent share and Shenington Investments Private Company of Thailand holding 49 percent for a pre-defined 25-year term.
Laos's other three telecom companies are Enterprise Telecommunications Lao, Star Telecom and VimpelCom Lao Co Ltd.
vientiane times
|
