Cambodia Accelerates Toward 5G: A Digital Revolution from 2026 to Transform the Economy

The Kingdom of Cambodia is preparing to launch commercial 5G mobile services from 2026 — a major milestone celebrated by the Royal Government as a cornerstone of its ambitious digital transformation.

An Official Announcement at the Highest Level

The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of Cambodia (MPTC) revealed this precise timetable following the signing of strategic agreements with friendly nations and development partners. The inauguration ceremony was presided over by Vongsey Vissoth, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister and Minister in charge of the Council of Ministers — underlining the commitment from the very top levels of the state.

This milestone comes in a context where Cambodia has been actively preparing its infrastructure, with local telecom operators having conducted tests over several years.

Massive Economic and Social Benefits Expected

5G promises data speeds up to ten times faster than 4G, with lightning-fast downloads and smooth high-definition video streaming. It offers increased reliability for digital services and ultra-low latency — ideal for smart traffic management or emergency systems.

But more than that, 5G will enable millions of devices per square kilometer to be connected — a foundational requirement for smart cities, digital agriculture, and automated manufacturing.

A Boost to the Digital Ecosystem

Authorities anticipate accelerated growth across Cambodia’s digital ecosystem: gains in productivity in manufacturing, logistics, fintech, e-commerce, and tech startups. Public services in e-health, e-education, and e-government are expected to become faster, more efficient and more accessible to all citizens.

This deployment will strengthen economic resilience by attracting foreign direct investment, creating qualified jobs, and boosting the country’s regional competitiveness.

Technical Preparations and Partnerships Underway

MPTC has completed in-depth studies on deployment models and is working closely with national telecom operators to ensure service quality and smooth transition by 2026. “5G is not just a faster internet, but a digital infrastructure base for innovation, modernization and inclusive growth,” said the Ministry.

Frequencies such as the 3.5 GHz band — freed for this purpose — will aim for average speeds of 100 Mbps with peaks up to 20 Gbps.

With this launch, Cambodia positions itself as an emerging leader in Southeast Asia, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals toward a connected and inclusive society.

What Is 5G?

5G is the fifth generation of cellular wireless technology, succeeding 4G to provide higher bandwidth, lower latency, and greater capacity for simultaneous connections. It uses optimized radio waves, varied frequency bands (including millimeter waves), and massive MIMO antenna arrays to transmit data more efficiently.

Main Advantages

• Ultra-high speeds: up to 10–20 Gbps — roughly 10 times faster than 4G — enabling instant downloads (e.g., a movie in a few seconds).

• Minimal latency: down to 1 ms compared to 30–40 ms on 4G, ideal for real-time applications such as autonomous vehicles or remote surgery.

• Massive capacity: supporting up to a million devices per km², perfect for smart cities and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Concrete Applications

5G will boost key sectors: e-health (real-time monitoring), digital agriculture via smart sensors, automated manufacturing, and e-government for more accessible public services. It will also attract investment, create skilled jobs, and enhance economic resilience in both dense urban areas and rural zones.