On July 27, 2026, at the headquarters of Star Telecom Co., Ltd. (Unitel), a signing ceremony for the MOU was held between the Department of Communications, General Staff Department of the Lao People’s Army, Ministry of National Defense, and Lao Asia Telecommunications State Enterprise. The purpose is to collaborate on research and the advancement of digital transformation for the Ministry of National Defense.
The agreement was signed by Colonel Phouvieng Chanthavong, Head of the Department of Communications, General Staff Department, and Mr. Souban Phanthavong, General Director of Lao Asia Telecommunications State Enterprise. The ceremony was chaired by Lieutenant General Saychai Kommasith, Central Committee member and Deputy Minister of National Defense, with representatives from both sides attending as witnesses.
This MOU aims to establish a foundation for cooperation in studying, designing, and developing digital systems, focusing on building secure digital infrastructure, enhancing cybersecurity systems, and developing digital human resources to support effective management and command within the Ministry of National Defense.
On this occasion, Colonel Phouvieng Chanthavong stated that this cooperation marks the beginning of systematic research, emphasizing security, data protection, coordination between both parties, and human resource development to support future digital system implementation.
Mr. Souban Phanthavong confirmed that Lao Asia Telecommunications State Enterprise will contribute its expertise, technology, and professional teams to jointly study and develop nine priority digital systems, including private cloud infrastructure, ERP, e-office, email systems, SOC (Security Operations Center), and other digital platforms. All data will be stored and managed within Laos in accordance with security standards.
In conclusion, Lieutenant General Saychai Kommasith emphasized that this cooperation is a significant step in driving digital transformation within the Ministry of National Defense, aiming to build integrated, secure digital systems that support military management in the digital era. He also provided guidance for implementation as follows:
- Study and design system architectures to ensure integration, stability, security, and scalability for future expansion.
- Ensure that system design aligns with roles, rights, and responsibilities of each sector, in strict compliance with the constitution, laws, and regulations, with high accountability.
- Focus on strengthening infrastructure, technology, and communications, particularly through training and capacity building for personnel, especially those in staff roles, to improve knowledge and expertise in system usage and enhance effective command and management.