Almost 1,300 schools in Lao will receive five years worth of free internet usage to assist students access a wider range of research materials. Unitel - Lao Star Telecommunication is providing US$3 million to support the Internet for Schools project.

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 starting at upper level schools, followed by lower level and primary schools.

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

Deputy Director General of Unitel - 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.”

The company provides telecommunication services through mobile phones and the internet in Laos with 1,200 base stations, 11,000 km of fibre-optic transmission cables and more than 1 million phone subscribers, a major share of the Laos market.

Lao-Asia Telecom (LAT) was established in 2001.

In 2007, the company signed a joint venture agreement with Viettel Global (a member of Viettel cooperation) and established the Star Telecom Company. and in 2009, Star Telecom officially launched its new brand label: Unitel.

Via: Vientiane Times