Cambodia Set to Launch Nationwide 5G Services in 2026, Driving Digital Transformation

The Cambodian government has officially announced its plans to roll out 5th-generation (5G) mobile services nationwide starting in 2026. This ambitious initiative aims to deliver ultra-fast data speeds, significantly surpassing current 4G capabilities, to meet the country's growing digital demands, as reported by kiripost on December 4, 2025.

Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Chea Vandeth, confirmed the January 2026 launch at the Digital Government Forum 2025. He emphasized that the ministry is actively collaborating with telecom operators and public institutions to prepare the necessary network infrastructure, according to Fresh News on December 5, 2025.

This strategic move is poised to unlock wide-ranging economic and social benefits for the Kingdom. The Ministry of Post and Telecommunications (MPTC) stated that 5G will dramatically improve high-definition video streaming and the reliability of digital services, as highlighted by Khmer Times on December 6, 2025.

The introduction of 5G is a cornerstone of Cambodia's broader digital transformation agenda, aligning with its national, regional, and global digital objectives. This includes fostering digital government, digital business, and digital citizens, as noted by the US-ASEAN Business Council on February 18, 2025.

Currently, Cambodia boasts extensive 4G coverage, reaching nearly 95 percent of internet users, which provides a solid foundation for the upcoming 5G deployment, kiripost reported on December 4, 2025. The government views robust digital infrastructure as essential for national competitiveness.

Prime Minister Hun Manet has underscored the critical importance of the 5G rollout for Cambodia's development, urging swift implementation. He also reassured the public that there are no adverse health risks associated with mobile phone antennas, citing WHO studies, according to the Phnom Penh Post on February 7, 2025.

The Royal Government, through the MPTC, views 5G not merely as faster internet but as foundational digital infrastructure. This will underpin future innovation, modernization, and inclusive digital growth across the nation, as stated by Khmer Times on December 6, 2025.

• Background and Previous Efforts: Cambodia's journey towards 5G has seen earlier trials, with operators like Smart Axiata and Cellcard conducting tests between 2018 and 2020. However, progress was temporarily halted in 2020 when the MPTC retracted trial licenses, citing concerns over inefficient infrastructure development and the absence of a clear policy roadmap, as reported by Developing Telecoms on March 13, 2024.

• Strategic Importance and Digital Economy: 5G is considered a critical enabler for Cambodia's ambitious digital economy, supporting key initiatives such as Smart Cities, Digital Agriculture, and Smart Manufacturing. The MPTC emphasizes that enhanced 5G connectivity will accelerate the development of Cambodia's digital ecosystem, driving productivity across vital sectors like manufacturing, logistics, and e-commerce, according to Khmer Times on December 6, 2025.

• Technical Advantages and Applications: The fifth-generation network promises data speeds up to ten times faster than 4G, coupled with ultra-low latency. These advancements are crucial for supporting critical real-time applications, including intelligent traffic management, emergency response systems, and revolutionizing sectors like e-health, e-education, and augmented reality, as detailed by the US-ASEAN Business Council on February 18, 2025.

• Challenges in Implementation: Despite the enthusiasm, significant hurdles remain, including high deployment costs for infrastructure, complex spectrum allocation issues, and a shortage of technical expertise. Specifically, challenges involve potential interference with Vietnamese satellites in the 3.5 GHz band and delays in freeing up the 700 MHz spectrum due to ongoing analogue TV use, as highlighted by the Phnom Penh Post on February 7, 2025.

• Government's Preparatory Steps: The MPTC has been actively preparing for the rollout by working closely with telecom operators to expand investment plans and improve service quality. The ministry is also focused on human resource development, with a 10-year plan to cultivate 100,000 highly educated personnel in the digital sector, and has provided thousands of devices to support digital government operations, kiripost reported on December 4, 2025.

• Economic and Social Impact: The nationwide 5G deployment is expected to strengthen economic resilience by attracting new foreign direct investment and creating high-value jobs. It will also enhance Cambodia's regional and international competitiveness, while significantly improving public services, making e-health, e-education, and e-government more accessible and efficient for citizens, according to Khmer Times on December 6, 2025.

• Regulatory Context and Spectrum: The MPTC is formulating policies to ensure all operators have access to the necessary 100 MHz spectrum for 5G networks. Efforts are underway to manage frequency bands, including developing plans to phase out 2G and 3G services to reallocate spectrum for future 4G and 5G services, as outlined in an MPTC 2024 5G/6G Special Day presentation.

• International Cooperation and Digital Partnerships: Cambodia is actively engaging in regional and global cooperation to advance its digital agenda. The nation has pledged support for ASEAN's Digital Economy Framework Agreement and has forged partnerships, such as with Alibaba Cloud to develop e-commerce platforms and with Japan for enhanced cybersecurity measures, as reported by bernama.com on December 6, 2025, and the US-ASEAN Business Council on February 18, 2025.