By Hak THYRAU

Lecturer of Applied Mathematic and Computer Science

Institute of Science and Technology, Royal Academy of Cambodia

P.O.Box 2070, Phnom Penh 3, Russian Confederation Blvd

The telecommunication network and service in Cambodia at present are characterized by the fact that the government fixes network is tvery small, the privately own mobile network are 10 times larger, the national long distance links are mainly by satellite, i.e. there are very few fiber optic link across the country. The domestic and international call charges are relatively high if compare with other countries in ASEAN. In the new act of MPTC have embraced the following policy:

1. To separate the function and responsibility in

·  Policy-making

·  Regulation

·  Ownership and share holding

·  Network operations

2. To established telecom Cambodia, the national telecom state enterprise. Make it a principal telecom company where there is needs to provide coordinating function like transit points for the different operators

3. To introduce a regulation to compel telecom companies to share the use of infrastructure, of course with the appropriate payment

4. To liberalize more of the enhanced service including Internet access, electronic mail, data transmission, trucked mobile radio services.

5. To introduce a Universal access from which the funds will be use to provide service in the remote rural areas.

6. Human resources development to be intensified.

II. Cambodia’s first national IT policy:

National Information Communication Technology Development Authority (NiDA) created on August 23rd, 2000 by Royal decree.

NiDA Policies of IT for development are:

1. Vision: Cambodia would like to fully reclaim its destiny, to be a real partner in regional and global affairs and be well on it way to becoming a truly free nation – free from want and poverty above all. Said by Samdach Hun Sen, Prime minister of Cambodia.

2. Mission:

·  To bring the government closer to the people and vice versa.

·  If government closer to the people, public service will be available to all and

we will can remove “rural” barrier from the development equation.

3. Strategy: Objective of NiDA strategy is government on line. If we have government on line then public service will be available for everyone, everywhere and every time.

4. Plan of action:

·  Human resource

-Registration of IT professional

-Registration of IT service providers

-Recruit qualified member of NiDA

-Recruit qualified member of the secretariat – top 5%.

·  Policy and Regulation

a. Cyber law

-DNS

-Server

-Content

-Usage

b. Environment for IT to grow

-Remove IT grow hindrance

-IT duty in-sync with Asian

-Promote IPR Protection

-Generous incentive for IT investment

-Consumer confidence thru certification

-Dot. Coming of all five stars establishment

-More ISP with annual review

-National IT day (August 23)

c. Application: Priority in

-Government Internet server

-Vehicle, Land, Resident Registration

-Standardization

d. School curriculum

-Primary at least 10%

-Secondary at least 20%

e. Professional oversea resource

-Agreement to return after training

-Incentive to come back.

·  Infrastructure: Universal Access Fund

-Contribution from all players

-Rural communities access points project.

III. Internet service providers (Government, Non-Government Organization (NGO)

and Private Company)

There are five Internet service providers in Cambodia: Camnet (MPTC), Big Pond (private company), Mobitel (private company), Camintel (private company), Open Forum (NGO). Universities, Government ministries, agencies and TV media most have excellent sites, but the price of using Internet are highest if compare to other country in regional.

The world relationship organization for ASEAN development in partnership with Japan Society Development Fund (JSDF) are running SchoolNet Project in five ASEAN Countries (Philippine, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam). This project supported by International organization, NGO, private Company such as UNESCO, World Bank, Mobitel, Open Forum (NGO), …etc. We hope that three primary schools in Phnom Penh will connect to SchoolNet in the near future.

IV. Conclusion

Many students in the field of computer science are graduated Bachelor of Science degree from Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP) and Norton University (NU).

These two universities are completed small pit of human resource, but it’s not sufficient for IT development. However we still need professional, IT expert from oversea and some help from international fund. If we achieve all NiDA IT policy, Cambodia will plug into the global network economy.