Editing Telecommunications in Cambodia

{{Short description|none}}<!---None is correct as [[WP:SDNONE]]--->
{{Infobox
|title=Telecommunications in Cambodia
|image1=[[Image:Sm kompong thom busstop telecom building.jpg|200px]]
|caption1=Communications towers in [[Kampong Thom City|Kampong Thom]]
|label1 = Telephone land lines
|data1 = 55,603 (2020)<ref name=CIA-Factbook-Cambodia>{{citation-attribution|{{Cite CIA World Factbook|country=Cambodia|section=Communications|access-date=2022-09-26}}}}</ref>
|label2 = Mobile lines
|data2 = 21,086,791 (2020)<ref name=CIA-Factbook-Cambodia/>
|label3 = Telephone country code
|data3 = +855<ref name=CIA-Factbook-Cambodia/>
|label4 = Internet users
|data4 = 5,440,559 (2019)<ref name=CIA-Factbook-Cambodia/>
|label5 = Internet country code
|data5 = [[.kh]]<ref name=CIA-Factbook-Cambodia/>
}}
[[File:Sihanoukville - communication towers.jpg|thumb|Sihanoukville - communication towers.]] 
'''Telecommunications in [[Cambodia]]''' include telephone, radio, television, and Internet services, which are regulated by the [[Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (Cambodia)|Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications]]. Transport and posts were restored throughout most of the country in the early 1980s during the [[History of Cambodia (1979-present)|People's Republic of Kampuchea]] regime after being disrupted under [[Democratic Kampuchea]] ([[Khmer Rouge]]).

In January 1987, the Soviet-aided [[Intersputnik]] space communications station began operation in [[Phnom Penh]] and established two-way telecommunication links between the Cambodian capital and the cities of [[Moscow]], [[Hanoi]], [[Vientiane]] and [[Paris]]. The completion of the earth satellite station restored the telephone and telex links among Phnom Penh, [[Hanoi]], and other countries for the first time since 1975. Although telecommunications services were initially limited to the government, these advances in communications helped break down the country's isolation, both internally and internationally.

Today, with the availability of mobile phones, communications are open to all, though the country's [[Prime Minister of Cambodia|Prime Minister]] [[Hun Sen]] decreed that [[3G]] [[mobile phone]]s would not be allowed to support video calling.

==Telephones==
{{See also|Telephone numbers in Cambodia}}

As of Q1 2020, Cambodia's mobile connection is at 21.4 million.<ref name="forest-interactive.com">{{Cite web|title=5G Rollout Likely to Spur Digital Content Subscriptions in Cambodia|url=https://www.forest-interactive.com/newsroom/industry-insights-5g-rollout-likely-to-spur-digital-content-subscriptions-in-cambodia/|access-date=2021-01-12|website=Forest Interactive|language=en-US}}</ref> Smart Axiata, a leading telecommunications company, in 2019 conducted a live trial of its [[5G]] network with support from China's [[Huawei]]. The company said it expects to begin rolling out 5G services in Cambodia by the end of 2019.<ref name="Internet users near 16m">{{cite news |last1=Vannak |first1=Chea |title=Internet users near 16m |url=https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50627470/internet-users-near-16m/ |access-date=27 July 2019 |work=Khmer Times |date=26 July 2019}}</ref>

GSMA predicted that by 2025, Cambodia will have approximately 24.3 million total mobile connections with smartphone connections up to 69%. The market is predicted to adopt 1.6 million of 5G connections within 5 years from 2020. Though so, it's believed that 4G still have room for growth and will continue to be the majority network connection.<ref name="forest-interactive.com"/>

The government state communications corporation is [[Telecom Cambodia]], founded in 2006 as an expansion of the telecom operating department of the [[Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, Cambodia|Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications]].

===Mobile networks===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Network !! Company !! Notes
|-
|
Smart
||
Smart Axiata Co., Ltd
||
* Incorporates the former Hello Axiata and Star-Cell
* <ref>[http://www.smart.com.kh/ Smart], website. Retrieved 24 October 2013.</ref>
|-
|
Mobitel
||
CamGSM Co., Ltd.
||
* Also known as Cellcard
* Incorporates the former Mfone
* <ref>[http://www.cellcard.com.kh/ Cellcard], website. Retrieved 24 October 2013.</ref>
|-
|
CooTel
||
Xinwei (Cambodia) Telecom Co., Ltd
||
* <ref>[http://www.cootel.com.kh CooTel], website. Retrieved 24 October 2013.</ref><ref>[http://www.xinwei.com.cn/ Xinwei], website. Retrieved 24 October 2013.</ref>
|-
|
SEATEL
||
Southeast Asia Telecom (Cambodia) Co., Ltd.
||
*Incorporates the former GT-TEL
* <ref>[http://www.seatelgroup.com/cambodia/en/index.html SEATEL], website. Retrieved 1 January 2015.</ref>
|-
|
Metfone
||
Viettel (Cambodia) Pte., Ltd.
||
* Incorporates the former Beeline
* <ref>[http://www.metfone.com.kh Metfone], website. Retrieved 24 October 2013.</ref>
|-
|
qb
||
Cambodia Advance Communications Co., Ltd. (CADCOMMS)
||
* <ref>[http://www.qbmore.com.kh qb], website. Retrieved 24 October 2013.</ref>
|}

==Radio and television==
{{See|Mass media in Cambodia}}

As of 2019, Cambodian broadcasters were a mixture of state-owned, joint public-private, and privately owned companies.<ref name=CIA-Factbook-Cambodia/>

===Radio stations===
As of 2019, there were roughly 84 radio broadcast stations: 1 state-owned broadcaster with multiple stations and a large mixture of public and private broadcasters. Several international broadcasters are also available.<ref name=CIA-Factbook-Cambodia/>

====Phnom Penh====
{{div col|colwidth=28em}}
* Apsara Radio FM 97
* Angel Radio 96.3Mhz Kampot
* BBC World Service 100.0&nbsp;MHz
* Dance Radio 96.6Mhz 
* DAP Radio FM 93.75
* Family FM 99.5
* Hang Meas Radio FM 104.5
* Koh Santepheap Daily FM 87.75
* National Radio Kampuchea
* Phnom Penh Radio FM 103
* Radio FM 90.5
* Radio Beehive FM 105
* DaunPenh eFM 87.50Mhz
* ABC News FM 107.5
* [[Lotus Radio FM 100.5hz]]
* [[Radio Free Asia]]
* Radio Khmer FM 107
* Radio Love FM 97.5
* Radio Town FM 102.3&nbsp;MHz
* Raksmey Hang Meas Radio FM 95.7000
* Royal Cambodia Armed Forces Radio FM 98
* Voice of America Khmer
* [[Women's Media Centre of Cambodia]] (WMC) Radio FM 102
{{div col end}}

====Provincial stations====
There are radio stations in each of the following provinces: [[Banteay Meanchey]], [[Battambang Province|Battambang]], [[Kampong Cham Province|Kampong Cham]], [[Kampong Thom Province|Kampong Thom]], [[Kampot Province|Kampot]], [[Kandal Province|Kandal]], [[Pailin]], [[Preah Vihear Province|Preah Vihear]], [[Siem Reap Province|Siem Reap]], [[Sihanoukville Province|Sihanoukville]] and [[Svay Rieng Province|Svay Rieng]].

===Television===
Cambodia has 27 TV broadcast stations with most operating on multiple channels, including 1 state-operated station broadcasting from multiple locations, 11 stations either jointly operated or privately owned with some broadcasting from several locations. Multi-channel cable and satellite systems are also available. There is one Chinese joint venture television station with the [[Ministry of Interior (Cambodia)|Ministry of Interior]]. Several television and radio operators broadcast online only (often via [[Facebook]]).<ref name=CIA-Factbook-Cambodia/>

====Broadcast and cable networks====
{{div col|colwidth=28em}}
* PNN TV
* Apsara Television (TV11)
* [[Bayon Television]]
* Bayon News Television
* Cambodia Cable Television (CCTV)
* Cambodian News Channel (CNC)
* [[Cambodian Television Network]] (CTN)
* CTV 8 HD
* [[Hang Meas HDTV]]
* Khmer Television 9 HDTV (TV9 HDTV)
* My TV
* [[National Television of Cambodia]] (TVK)
* One TV (Royal Media Entertainment Corporation, LTD)
* Phnom Penh Municipal Cable Television (PPCTV Co., LTD)
* Phnom Penh Television (TV3)
* [[TV5 Cambodia]]
* One News
{{div col end}}

====Provincial television stations====
* [[Kandal Province]] - Broadcasting on channel 27, Bayon Television is Cambodia's only [[Ultra high frequency|UHF]] channel. A private television company belonging to Prime Minister [[Hun Sen]], it also operates Bayon Radio FM 95&nbsp;MHz. It was established in January 1998.
* [[Mondulkiri]] - Established in 1999, relays TVK on channel 10.
* [[Preah Vihear Province|Preah Vihear]] - Established in 2006, broadcasts on channel 7.
* [[Ratanakiri]] - Established in 1993, relays TVK on channel 7.
* [[Siem Reap]] - Established in 2002, relays TV3 on channel 12.

===Most viewed channels===

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%"
|-
! Position !! Channel !! Share of total viewing (%)
|-
| 1 || [[Hang Meas HDTV|Hang Meas]] || 22.1
|-
| 2 || [[Cambodian Television Network|CTN]] || 18.3
|-
| 3 || MyTV || 10.5
|-
| 4 || PNN TV || 8.1
|-
| 5 || [[TV5 Cambodia|TV5]] || 4.4
|-
| 6 || [[Bayon Television|Bayon TV]] || 2.6
|-
| 7 || CTV 8 || 2.0
|-
| 8 || SEATV || 1.4
|-
| 9 || TV9 || 1.2
|-
| 10 || TV11 || 1.0
|-
| 11 || TV3 || 0.9
|-
| 12 || CNC || 0.8
|-
| 13 || ETV || 0.6
|-
| 14 || [[National Television of Cambodia|TVK]] || 0.4
|}

==Internet==
{{asof|2019}} the number of internet users in Cambodia rose to 15.8 million, about 98.5% of the population. According to the Telecommunications Regulator of Cambodia (TRC), the number of registered SIM cards rose by 9.4 percent during the first half of the year, reaching 20.8 million. The SIM card market is saturated, with Cambodia now having more active SIM cards than people. According to TRC, there are six telecommunications firms in the country: Cellcard, Smart Axiata, Metfone, Seatel, Cootel, and qb. Three companies, Metfone, Cellcard, and Smart, account for 90% of users. TRC noted that, as of February 2019, Facebook had seven million users in Cambodia.<ref name="Internet users near 16m"/>

<big>List of Internet service providers</big>
{{div col|colwidth=28em}}
* AngkorNet
* AZ (Online)
* Cambo Technology (ISP) Co., Ltd.
* Cambodia Internet Corp
* Cambotech
* Camintel
* Camnet ([[Telecom Cambodia]])
* CB (Cambodian Broadband)
* CDC
* Cellcard (Mobitel)
* CooTel
* Chuan Wei 
* CIDC IT
* Citylink
* Digi ISP
* Dragon Royal Telecom
* EmCom
* Everyday
* Ezecom
* GTD
* Hiway Telecom
* Home Internet
* Kingtel Communications Limited
* MaxBIT
* MekongNet (Angkor Data Communication Group)
* Metfone
* Mobilastic
* Neocom ISP (NTC)
* NTC - NeocomISP Limited
* Open Net
* PCP
* PP Net Phone
* PPCTV Broadband Internet Service
* SingMeng Telemedia
* yes SEATEL Cambodia
* SINET (S.I Group Co., Ltd)
* Smart @Home
* TeleSURF
* Telecom Cambodia
* TODAY ISP (Today Communication Co., Ltd)
* Turbotech
* Vimean Seile
* Wicam
* WIP
* Wireless Internet Provider
* WirelessIP
* Y5Net (BDKTel Co,LTD)
* Mekong CLOUD Cambodia
{{div col end}}

===Internet censorship and surveillance===
{{outdated section|date=February 2021}}
[[File:Cambodia. Sihanoukville - communication tower.jpg|thumb|]]
In its ''Freedom on the Net 2013'' report, [[Freedom House]] gives Cambodia a "Freedom on the Net Status" of "partly free".

Compared to traditional media in Cambodia, new media, including online news, social networks and personal blogs, enjoy more freedom and independence from government censorship and restrictions. However, the government does proactively block blogs and websites, either on moral grounds, or for hosting content deemed critical of the government. The government restricts access to sexually explicit content, but does not systematically censor online political discourse. Since 2011 three blogs hosted overseas have been blocked for perceived antigovernment content. In 2012, government ministries threatened to shutter internet cafes too near schools—citing moral concerns—and instituted surveillance of cafe premises and cell phone subscribers as a security measure.<ref name=FOTN-Cambodia-2013>[http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-net/2013/cambodia "Cambodia country report"], ''Freedom on the Net 2013'', Freedom House, 3 October 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2013.</ref>

Early in 2011, very likely at the urging of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, all Cambodian ISPs blocked the hosting service [[Blogspot]], apparently in reaction to a December 2010 post on KI-Media, a blog run by Cambodians from both inside and outside the country. The site, which is often critical of the administration, described the prime minister and other officials as "traitors" after opposition leader [[Sam Rainsy]] alleged they had sold land to [[Vietnam]] at a contested national border. All ISPs but one subsequently restored service to the sites following customer complaints. In February 2011, however, multiple ISPs reinstated blocks on individual Blogspot sites, including KI-Media, Khmerization—another critical citizen journalist blog—and a blog by the Khmer political cartoonist Sacrava.<ref name=FOTN-Cambodia-2013/>

There are no government restrictions on access to the Internet or credible reports that the government monitors e-mail or Internet chat rooms without appropriate legal authority. During 2012 NGOs expressed concern about potential online restrictions. In February and November, the government published two circulars, which, if implemented fully, would require Internet cafes to install surveillance cameras and restrict operations within major urban centers. Activists also reported concern about a draft “cybercrimes” law, noting that it could be used to restrict online freedoms. The government maintained it would only regulate criminal activity.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-2012>[https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm?year=2012&dlid=204192 "Cambodia"], ''Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012'', Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, U.S. Department of State, 21 March 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2013.</ref>

The constitution provides for freedom of speech and press; however, these rights were not always respected in practice. The 1995 press law prohibits prepublication censorship or imprisonment for expressing opinions; however, the government uses the penal code to prosecute citizens on defamation, [[disinformation]], and incitement charges. The penal code does not prescribe imprisonment for defamation, but does for incitement or spreading disinformation, which carry prison sentences of up to three years. Judges also can order fines, which may lead to jail time if not paid. The constitution requires that free speech not adversely affect public security.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-2012/>

The constitution declares that the king is “inviolable,” and a Ministry of Interior directive conforming to the defamation law reiterates these limits and prohibits publishers and editors from disseminating stories that insult or defame government leaders and institutions. The continued criminalization of defamation and disinformation and a broad interpretation of criminal incitement constrains freedom of expression.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-2012/>

The law provides for the privacy of residence and correspondence and prohibits illegal searches; however, NGOs report that police routinely conduct searches and seizures without warrants.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-2012/>

[[Corruption in Cambodia|Corruption remains pervasive]] and governmental human rights bodies are generally ineffective. A weak judiciary that sometimes fails to provide due process or fair trial procedures is a serious problem. The courts lack human and financial resources and, as a result, are not truly independent and are subject to corruption and political influence.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-2012/>

On 17 February 2021, the Cambodian government announced its plans to launch a censorship scheme called "National Internet Gateway" which heavily resembles China's [[Great Firewall]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=Dobberstein|first=Laura|title=Cambodia to force all internet traffic through national 'Internet Gateway'|url=https://www.theregister.com/2021/02/18/cambodia_national_internet_gateway/|access-date=2022-02-14|website=www.theregister.com|language=en}}</ref> and it will get launched in February 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sharwood|first=Simon|title=Full-time internet surveillance comes to Cambodia this week|url=https://www.theregister.com/2022/02/14/cambodia_national_internet_gateway/|access-date=2022-02-14|website=www.theregister.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Sochan|first=Ry|title=Cambodian Digital Gov't Policy debuts|url=https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cambodian-digital-govt-policy-debuts|access-date=2022-02-14|website=www.phnompenhpost.com|language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Cambodia}}
* [[Media of Cambodia]]
* [[Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (Cambodia)]]

==References==
{{CIA World Factbook}}
{{Reflist |32em}}

==External links==
* [https://bgp.he.net/country/KH Networks: Cambodia] 
* [http://www.mptc.gov.kh/ Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications] 
* [http://www.tc.com.kh/ Telecom Cambodia]
* [http://www.asiawaves.net/cambodia-tv.htm Television stations in Cambodia]
* [http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2006-05/26/content_601595.htm "3G phones banned in anti-porn drive"], China Daily (Associated Press), 26 May 2006. Retrieved 24 October 2013.

{{Cambodia topics}}
{{Asia topic|Telecommunications in}}
{{Telecommunications}}

[[Category:Telecommunications in Cambodia| ]]