Cambodia - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Executive summary

The mobile broadband market sees rapid growth in CambodiaDespite its status as a lesser developed country, Cambodia's efforts to expand and upgrade its telecom infrastructure are bearing fruit. There were between eight and ten mobile operators vigorously competing with each other in a market segment that was growing at a rapid rate. A process of rationalisation followed, reducing the number of operators to only six.

By 2018, compared to other Asian nations, Cambodia has very low fixed line and fixed-broadband penetration and low mobile broadband penetration.

The number of fixed telephone lines in Cambodia is slowly declining from a small base as the mobile segment continues to expand and fixed broadband penetration remains very low and under-developed.

The fixed broadband market remains highly under-developed in Cambodia. Over the past five years fixed broadband penetration has increased moderately from a very small base. Fixed broadband penetration is predicted to grow very strongly over the next five years from this very small base.

In 2018 the MPTC launched a free Wi-Fi service for visitors and residents of Phnom Penh. Customers can access free Wi-Fi services in selected parks around the city.

The mobile subscriber market peaked in 2015, however since then has seen penetration fall due to maturing market as well as market consolidation amongst the mobile operators and stricter implementation of laws regarding SIM card registration. Over the next five years to 2023 the market will move back to positive growth but at a relatively slow rate.

Cambodia aims to launch its first communications satellite into orbit in 2021.

Cambodia's mobile broadband has grown sharply over the past five years from a small base driven by a mature mobile market. Strong growth is predicted over the next five years to 2023 but at a declining rate.

The mobile broadband market will be driven by increasingly faster speeds offered by the mobile operators as they further roll out their 4G networks and eventually launch 5G networks.

Key Developments:

MPTC launched a free Wi-Fi service for visitors and residents of Phnom Penh.

Smart Axiata launched an LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) network capable of supporting maximum speeds of 600Mbps.

Cambodia aims to launch its first communications satellite into orbit in 2021.

Mobile broadband has seen very strong growth over the past five years.

Fixed broadband penetration is predicted to reach over 2% by 2023.

The number of fixed telephone lines in Cambodia is slowly declining.