Cambodia is committed to connecting the entire country through the 5G network in the near future as the government is pushing for the adoption of the new technology.
Chea Vandeth, Minister of Posts and Telecommunication, said this at the First Digital Government Forum and Digital Technology Expo at Diamond Island Convention and Exhibition Centre on Monday.
“Cambodia will consider launching 5G technology at an appropriate time in the near future,” Vandeth said, citing that the development of digital infrastructure is a top priority that the ministry is paying close attention to.
5G is the latest technology standard for broadband cellular networks, which cellular phone companies began deploying worldwide in 2019.
The ministry has been working on a policy that will allow all operators to have the required 100 MHz spectrum to run on the 5G network.
5G will provide vast benefits to both the society and the economy but its full potential cannot be realized without the active participation of the government and the regulatory authorities.
Currently, the ministry is promoting the telecommunication infrastructure of 4G mobile and Internet services throughout the country, especially to schools, health centres, communes and police stations, he said.
Addressing the forum, Prime Minister Hun Manet commended the remarkable progress of the country’s digitalization. “In recent years, Cambodia has achieved remarkable progress in digitalization, with the Covid-19 crisis acting as a catalyst for a more profound embrace of the digital technology,” the Prime Minister said.
Digital payments in Cambodia reached about $492 billion by 2023, equivalent to approximately 16 times the country’s Gross Domestic Product, he said.
The pandemic was also a catalyst for accelerating the adoption of digital technology, the premier noted, citing that the mobile Internet subscribers and mobile subscribers reached more than 19 million as of 2023.
The forum is held from March 11 to 13 in Phnom Penh on the theme of ‘Sustainable and Inclusive Development through the Implementation of Digital Policy.’
The forum aimed to showcase achievements in the digital government transformation as guided by the Cambodia Digital Economy and Society Policy Framework 2021-2035, Cambodia Digital Government Policy 2022-2035, and most notably Pentagonal V of the RGC’s Pentagonal Strategy-Phase I.
The forum brings together domestic and international experts to discuss and share experiences pertaining to policy formulation and implementation, new digital technology trends and lessons learned and best practices adopted for accelerating digital transformation.
The Cambodia International Digital Government and Digital Technology Exhibition, featured on the sidelines of the forum, highlights achievements in the digital government transformation, the development of digital platforms and services and digital public service provision through digital platforms and services created by various ministries and institutions.
Visitors have opportunities to experience demo equipment and services using the latest and emerging technologies from renowned domestic and international companies. khmertimeskh
