Telecommunication operators are being pushed to develop connecting telecommunication infrastructure to enable Information and Communication Technology (ICT) connectivity from urban to rural areas.
The push has been made ahead of the release of the government’s ICT master plan for 2020.
The connectivity of telecommunications and ICT is now available only in major cities across the country, but in rural areas telecommunication infrastructure development is needed, said experts in the industry at the edotco-organised International Infrastructure Summit held yesterday.
The challenges for Cambodia’s ICT is connecting everyone in urban and rural areas, the experts said, while things like the digital economy, increasing digital startups and digital payment gateways are already in place.
Tram Iv Tek, the Telecom Minister, said Cambodia’s ambition was to be digitally connected by 2020 and he recognised the crucial role played by public/private partnerships in achieving ICT readiness.
“The telecommunication and ICT policy 2020 values the promotion of infrastructure sharing as one of the strategic leaders for telecommunication infrastructure expansion of 100 percent broadband coverage in urban and 70 percent coverage in rural areas,” Mr Iv Tek said.
“We believe that technology and communication are the key drivers for economic progress in the country and we believe that we are infrastructure players playing a strong role in the sector,” said Thivanka Rangala, the CFO of edotco Group.
As one of infrastructure players, edotco, a regional leader in integrated telecommunications infrastructure service, is ready to work as partners with the government and private companies to develop the ICT policy by 2020, Mr Rangala added.
With 7.2 million internet subscribers and 20 million telephone subscribers, the fixed broadband market now presents a huge opportunity for development as mobile broadband penetration is forecast to continue its strong growth and make Cambodia one of fastest developing countries in the region, Mr Rangala said.
Thomas Hundt, the CEO of Smart Axiata, said expanding infrastructure to rural areas was crucial.
“We have been doing quite a lot, but more should be done in the coming years,” he said. “ICT infrastructure is not available to many households in the provinces. Despite the vast internet connectivity like mobile 4G services, there are still significant gaps between the major city, provincial cities and rural areas,” he added.
The summit brought together leading figures and key players in the industry, creating dialogue that is necessary to realise Cambodia’s ICT vision, Mr Iv Tek said.
According to Phillip Wong, edotco Cambodia’s country managing director, Cambodia’s ICT sector is one with massive potential, in line with the country’s strong economic growth.
“National mobile connectivity has undergone immense growth in the last few years due to Royal Government of Cambodia’s facilitative policies and light touch regulatory approaches that have encouraged investments in the sector, whereby mobile penetration is now over 110 percent,” Mr Wong told Khmer Times recently.
Source: http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5080378/push-connect-rural-areas/