Lao Unicode font coming to your mobile

The Lao Ministry of Post & Telecommunication (MPT) invited Anousak Souphavanh, Managing director XY Mobile to present Lao language on computers, tablets and mobiles to government officials.

The subject for the meeting was: Accept Phetsarat OT as standard national UNICODE font and the use of Lao language on mobile phones and tablets.

Attendees included H. E.  Minister Mr. Hiem Phommachanh, Vice Ministers: Mr. Thansamay and Mr. Sithong as well as officials from the Research and Development Division

Summary:

Ministers and committee agreed to accept Phetasarth OT as the standard national Font and urged (notice and decree will be adopted for support) operators to work with companies to support Lao language on mobile phones and as content. Mobile phones sold in Laos in the future will have some sort of Lao support.

It is time for us to teach our younger generation not to use “karaoke language” to communicate and to provide access to local information via networks. Lao is a culture and a nation with unique language and ways of life. We should adhere and support this both in via technology and other media. The MPT is a single entity that acts on behalf of the nation on telecommunications and information technology which will set the standards so that others can follow or adopt. Phetsarath OT will be launch on 1/1/2012.

Anousak Souphavanh, Managing Director at XY Mobile presented the solution and issues dealing with Lao language on mobile phones and tablets as well as encouraging that local content must be developed to ensure the benefits goes to the Lao users and operators as whole.

Overall, it was time to act, work together and move on with a commitment and strong support from all sectors in terms of Lao language usage on mobile phones and computers. Local content should also benefit the usage of high speed networks and provide to access to information technology with our own language. Education would also be a crucial sector and should follow with local content.

Anousak Souphavanh said he hopes, with this statement by the government, that we will be able to work together with all stakeholders in regards of local language on devices as well as content and service, so we can push this into a broad perspective.