[PHNOM PENH POST]
Digital cash services in Cambodia showed marked increases in users and
cash flow in 2011, and still more growth is expected this year as
operators launch new services and partnerships to capture a large but
still-untapped rural market.
The services, in which customers
transfer money via their mobile phones, have in a few short years formed
a fledgling market in the Kingdom with about 400,000 users, according
to the National Bank of Cambodia.
Australian and New Zealand
Banking Group Ltd, which has a partnership with domestic conglomerate
Royal Group in ANZ Royal Bank, established WING in Cambodia in 2009.
ACLEDA Bank’s Unity hit the market in 2010, followed by CamGSM’s Cellcard Cash last year. CamGSM is owned by Royal Group.
Unity,
which now requires users to hold an ACLEDA account, saw a 547 per cent
increase in cash flow in 2011, with more than $64 million in total
transactions, according to ACLEDA senior vice president for marketing
Sok Sophea.
Showing posts with label ICT and Telecom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ICT and Telecom. Show all posts
March 7, 2012
March 1, 2012
Cambodia telco growth in 3G
[PHNOM PENH POST]
Despite the hype surrounding the advent of fourth-generation mobile
services, the bulk of growth and profits in Cambodian telecom remains in
3G networks, experts say.
A recent study by London-based research firm Ovum notes that emerging markets such as Cambodia will see rapid growth in 3G this year as providers become more reliant on 3G revenues.
“Mobile broadband growth will be the biggest opportunity for emerging market operators in 2012 . . . operators across all emerging markets will experience strong data connection and revenue growth in 2012 as users look to gain access to data services, the internet and mobile content and applications,” the report says.
A recent study by London-based research firm Ovum notes that emerging markets such as Cambodia will see rapid growth in 3G this year as providers become more reliant on 3G revenues.
“Mobile broadband growth will be the biggest opportunity for emerging market operators in 2012 . . . operators across all emerging markets will experience strong data connection and revenue growth in 2012 as users look to gain access to data services, the internet and mobile content and applications,” the report says.
February 13, 2012
Ministry to boost telco rules
[PHNOM PENH POST]
The Cambodian government has approved the establishment of a regulatory
body for telecommunications, a sector where lax or non-existent rules
have led to frequency and pricing disputes, insiders said.
The Cambodia Telecom Regulator, which Prime Minister Hun Sen approved in a draft sub-decree on Friday, will aim to make rules clearer and more transparent, Minister of Posts and Telecommunication So Khun said.
“The establishment of CTR will improve the telecom sector’s present management system by separating the functional roles of the Ministry of Post and Telecom,” a press release from the ministry stated.
The Cambodia Telecom Regulator, which Prime Minister Hun Sen approved in a draft sub-decree on Friday, will aim to make rules clearer and more transparent, Minister of Posts and Telecommunication So Khun said.
“The establishment of CTR will improve the telecom sector’s present management system by separating the functional roles of the Ministry of Post and Telecom,” a press release from the ministry stated.
February 11, 2012
Banks grab customers with mobile services
[PHNOM PENH POST]
In a country where only one in 15 people has a bank account but nearly all have a cell phone, a handful of Cambodian banks are expanding mobile banking services in hopes of reaching new customers.
“In Cambodia, reports from various phone companies show there are more cell phones than people,” says Sok Sophea, senior vice president of marketing at ACLEDA Bank, which first introduced mobile banking to the Kingdom in April 2010.
Its mobile service is growing by 10 per cent a month and is used by 54,000 of the bank’s some 794,000 customers, Sok Sophea said.
Kim Vada, deputy general director of the National Bank of Cambodia, said at a banking and microfinance conference yesterday that mobile bankers in Cambodia number around 400,000 but growth in mobile banking has been slower than hoped because of a “limited understanding” of the technology.
In a country where only one in 15 people has a bank account but nearly all have a cell phone, a handful of Cambodian banks are expanding mobile banking services in hopes of reaching new customers.
“In Cambodia, reports from various phone companies show there are more cell phones than people,” says Sok Sophea, senior vice president of marketing at ACLEDA Bank, which first introduced mobile banking to the Kingdom in April 2010.
Its mobile service is growing by 10 per cent a month and is used by 54,000 of the bank’s some 794,000 customers, Sok Sophea said.
Kim Vada, deputy general director of the National Bank of Cambodia, said at a banking and microfinance conference yesterday that mobile bankers in Cambodia number around 400,000 but growth in mobile banking has been slower than hoped because of a “limited understanding” of the technology.
February 3, 2012
4G claims seen as still 'way too early'
[PHNOM PENH POST]
The Kingdom’s newest telecom firms have touted fourth-generation wireless services to set themselves apart from the crowded sector, but experts have said Cambodia is not yet ready to adopt the technology.
Both Emaxx and China’s Xinwei Technologies, which received its license from the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MPTC) last August, claim they plan to deliver 4G capabilities to consumers.
And there’s speculation a third company, Alltech Telecom of Russia, which would be Cambodia’s 11th mobile provider, will utilise 4G speeds as well. However, experts have pushed back against the claims, saying most Cambodians could not yet afford the service, and that these companies are not technologically equipped to offer it.
“The business case for LTE [a 4G standard] in an emerging market like Cambodia is difficult, particularly for operations like Emaxx and Alltech who will have to spend heavily to build a nationwide network,” Shiv Putcha, a Melbourne-based telecoms analyst at international research firm Ovum, said in an email.
The Kingdom’s newest telecom firms have touted fourth-generation wireless services to set themselves apart from the crowded sector, but experts have said Cambodia is not yet ready to adopt the technology.
Both Emaxx and China’s Xinwei Technologies, which received its license from the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MPTC) last August, claim they plan to deliver 4G capabilities to consumers.
And there’s speculation a third company, Alltech Telecom of Russia, which would be Cambodia’s 11th mobile provider, will utilise 4G speeds as well. However, experts have pushed back against the claims, saying most Cambodians could not yet afford the service, and that these companies are not technologically equipped to offer it.
“The business case for LTE [a 4G standard] in an emerging market like Cambodia is difficult, particularly for operations like Emaxx and Alltech who will have to spend heavily to build a nationwide network,” Shiv Putcha, a Melbourne-based telecoms analyst at international research firm Ovum, said in an email.
February 1, 2012
Indonesia eyes Kingdom's rice, telco, tourism sectors
Indonesian Ambassador to Cambodia Soehardjono Sastromihardjo discussed agriculture, tourism and telecom investments with Deputy Prime Minister Sok An, Council of Ministers spokesman Ek Tha said.
“They are seeking investments in rice production because we have high potential in agriculture, especially in rice,” he said.
Ek Tha said Indonesian investors were interested in purchasing rice from Cambodia.
Indonesia has also considered starting direct flights between the island of Bali to Siem Reap province and Phnom Penh, Ek Tha said.
“We welcome any investment and exports of our milled rice and rice paddy to their country, as well as [investments in] direct flight and telecoms in our country,” said he said.
Mobile subscribers exceed population
The Kingdom had 14.96 million subscribers in November, the data showed. The CIA World Factbook estimated Cambodia's population at 14.7 million people in July.
Cambodia telecoms operator Smart Mobile yesterday said that its subscribers exceeded 2 million in January, making the company the Kingdom's third largest provider by subscriber numbers after Metfone and Mobitel.
Coverage expansion onto a nationwide level in January accounted for the increase in Smart users, according to a company statement.
The data obtained by the Post showed Smart with 1.59 million subscribers as of November, or the market's No 4 spot. Hello Axiata held the No 3 spot in November with 1.67 million subscribers.
Metfone claimed 7.35 million subscribers in November, an increase of about 28 per cent since May, the data showed. Mobitel subscriber numbers have been at 2.9 million since May.
New Mfone CEO in chair next month as business struggles
Suttisak Khndhikajana from Advanced Info Service, Thailand’s largest mobile operator by subscriber numbers, will take the position, Atip Rittaporn said via phone. AIS and are subsidiaries of Thai conglomerate Shin Corporation.
The appointment puts an end to questions concerning Mfone’s leadership. The telecom service provider’s previous CEO resigned at the end of October. Atip Rittaporn acted as interim CEO between November and January, he confirmed yesterday.
Mfone lost subscribers in 2011, according to data obtained yesterday by the Post. About 380,000 customers discontinued the mobile service between May and November last year, bringing subscriber numbers to about 690,000, maintaining it No. 5 among the Kingdom’s eight active service providers.
January 3, 2012
Emaxx still considering Excell deal 6 months on
[PHNOM PENH POST]
Digital Star Media’s acquisition of mobile operator Excell has yet to be finalised despite expectations that the deal would go through in July, according to Digital Star Chief Operating Officer Frank May.
May told the Post yesterday that his company, which operates a fourth-generation WiMax service under its Emaxx brand, still plans to purchase Excell but is conducting due diligence.
“As with any company doing wise business, we are working through various levels of due diligence,” he said. “We’re in the process of document review and are waiting for the arrival of all documents.”
May said there is no clear timeline for the deal’s completion.
“It could take 10 days or a month,” he said. “We’re not set to any particular schedule other than getting due diligence...In due course of time, anything is possible.”
Excell chief executive officer Biioliddin Salakhiddin Uulu, reached yesterday by phone, declined to comment.
Digital Star Media’s acquisition of mobile operator Excell has yet to be finalised despite expectations that the deal would go through in July, according to Digital Star Chief Operating Officer Frank May.
May told the Post yesterday that his company, which operates a fourth-generation WiMax service under its Emaxx brand, still plans to purchase Excell but is conducting due diligence.
“As with any company doing wise business, we are working through various levels of due diligence,” he said. “We’re in the process of document review and are waiting for the arrival of all documents.”
May said there is no clear timeline for the deal’s completion.
“It could take 10 days or a month,” he said. “We’re not set to any particular schedule other than getting due diligence...In due course of time, anything is possible.”
Excell chief executive officer Biioliddin Salakhiddin Uulu, reached yesterday by phone, declined to comment.
December 23, 2011
Digital content key to growth for Kingdom’s telecom firms
[PHNOM PENH POST]
CAMBODIAN telecoms must produce digital content to remain competitive in the country’s crowded sector, experts said yesterday.
However, others claimed the consumer market for that content was still too small.
A lack of domestically produced TV programs, websites and other digital offerings has Cambodia’s estimated 755,000 internet users searching abroad, International Data Group ASEAN CEO Tam Le said yesterday during a press conference.
The production of domestic content would boost the already-fierce competition among the Kingdom’s nine active mobile operators and 12 active internet service providers, he said.
“The thing is that [domestic] content in Cambodia is very limited,” Tam Le said, adding, “[Providing digital content] is a way for operators to survive.”
CAMBODIAN telecoms must produce digital content to remain competitive in the country’s crowded sector, experts said yesterday.
However, others claimed the consumer market for that content was still too small.
A lack of domestically produced TV programs, websites and other digital offerings has Cambodia’s estimated 755,000 internet users searching abroad, International Data Group ASEAN CEO Tam Le said yesterday during a press conference.
The production of domestic content would boost the already-fierce competition among the Kingdom’s nine active mobile operators and 12 active internet service providers, he said.
“The thing is that [domestic] content in Cambodia is very limited,” Tam Le said, adding, “[Providing digital content] is a way for operators to survive.”
December 22, 2011
Telecom Cambodia finds Vietnamese ISP partner
[PHNOM PENH POST]
State-owned Telecom Cambodia has signed a business cooperation agreement with Vietnam National Post and Telecommunications Corp in order to bolster TC’s product portfolio and coverage area, company officials said yesterday.
Telecom Cambodia offers both fixed-line phone and internet services in the Kingdom. Vietnam National Post and Telecommunications, also state-owned, will provide the technology and equipment necessary for Telecom Cambodia to grow its operations in the Kingdom, and in turn allow the company to better compete in a crowded sector, TC director general Lao Saroeun said.
“We do believe that the agreement will help us to increase number of customers, expanding business activities and generating more revenue,” he said.
The boost in services would also result in lower prices for customers, he added.
State-owned Telecom Cambodia has signed a business cooperation agreement with Vietnam National Post and Telecommunications Corp in order to bolster TC’s product portfolio and coverage area, company officials said yesterday.
Telecom Cambodia offers both fixed-line phone and internet services in the Kingdom. Vietnam National Post and Telecommunications, also state-owned, will provide the technology and equipment necessary for Telecom Cambodia to grow its operations in the Kingdom, and in turn allow the company to better compete in a crowded sector, TC director general Lao Saroeun said.
“We do believe that the agreement will help us to increase number of customers, expanding business activities and generating more revenue,” he said.
The boost in services would also result in lower prices for customers, he added.
December 19, 2011
Cambodia has 14 million subscribers of mobile phone services: minister
[XINHUA]
PHNOM PENH, Dec. 19 -- There are about 14 million subscribers of mobile phone services in Cambodia, or 98 percent of the country's 14.3 million people, So Khun, minister of Posts and Telecommunications, said on Monday.
The number of mobile phone users had been increasing exponentially and the total number was about 14 million now, up from 10.9 million users by the end of last year, he said during a meeting with Vietnamese Minister of Information and Telecommunications Nguyen Bac Son.
Currently, Cambodia has 8 mobile phone operators: Cam GSM ( Mobitel), Mfone, Hello Axiata Company Limited, CADCOMMS (QB), Metfone (Viettel), GT-Tell (Excell), Sotelco (Beeline), and Smart Mobile.
The number of mobile phone users had been increasing exponentially and the total number was about 14 million now, up from 10.9 million users by the end of last year, he said during a meeting with Vietnamese Minister of Information and Telecommunications Nguyen Bac Son.
Currently, Cambodia has 8 mobile phone operators: Cam GSM ( Mobitel), Mfone, Hello Axiata Company Limited, CADCOMMS (QB), Metfone (Viettel), GT-Tell (Excell), Sotelco (Beeline), and Smart Mobile.
December 14, 2011
Korean company LG to join forces with Cellcard
[PHNOM PENH POST]
Korea's LG Electronics will partner with Cambodia mobile operator Cellcard to expand its smartphone services, LG representative said yesterday.
Customers who buy one of four LG smartphone models will get a free Cellcard sim card with an internet service plan, LG’s Cambodia representative Hor Hab said yesterday.
LG had about 10 per cent of Cambodia’s cell phone market last year, Hor Hab said, making the electronics company number two in the Kingdom’s market after Nokia.
Samsung, which had the third largest market share last year, is also a competitor, he added.
About 30 per cent of cell phone sales in Cambodia are smartphones, Mobitel Operations Manager Kay Lot said yesterday. Cellcard and Mobitel are brands that operate under Royal Group’s CamGSM.
The partnership with LG was a way of getting an edge on the smartphone market, which was increasing rapidly in the Kingdom, Kay Lot said.
Korea's LG Electronics will partner with Cambodia mobile operator Cellcard to expand its smartphone services, LG representative said yesterday.
Customers who buy one of four LG smartphone models will get a free Cellcard sim card with an internet service plan, LG’s Cambodia representative Hor Hab said yesterday.
LG had about 10 per cent of Cambodia’s cell phone market last year, Hor Hab said, making the electronics company number two in the Kingdom’s market after Nokia.
Samsung, which had the third largest market share last year, is also a competitor, he added.
About 30 per cent of cell phone sales in Cambodia are smartphones, Mobitel Operations Manager Kay Lot said yesterday. Cellcard and Mobitel are brands that operate under Royal Group’s CamGSM.
The partnership with LG was a way of getting an edge on the smartphone market, which was increasing rapidly in the Kingdom, Kay Lot said.
December 9, 2011
Smart Mobile expands network coverage, rolls out GSM 900MHz
[TELECOM PAPER]
Smart Mobile Cambodia has expanded its coverage to Oddar Meanchey province, Preah Vihear province and Mondulkiri province by launching base stations as a part of its efforts to provide quality te lecommunications service to more Cambodians. The company's service is available in an area covering over 80 percent of the Cambodian population and around 50 percent of the country's territory by. Current network coverage extension comes together with the ubiquitous GSM 900MHz rollout. The rollout of base stations working in the 900MHz frequency band enables improvements of the signal travel distance and penetration parameters, allowing more stable connection for indoor, rural and remote areas. Smart Mobile's subscribers can talk, text and use mobile internet services in any province of the nation. On top to the nationwide coverage of Smart Mobile's GSM/GPRS/EDGE network, Smart Mobile's 3.75G HSPA/HSPA+ network, suitable for mobile internet, is available in fourteen provinces.
Smart Mobile Cambodia has expanded its coverage to Oddar Meanchey province, Preah Vihear province and Mondulkiri province by launching base stations as a part of its efforts to provide quality te lecommunications service to more Cambodians. The company's service is available in an area covering over 80 percent of the Cambodian population and around 50 percent of the country's territory by. Current network coverage extension comes together with the ubiquitous GSM 900MHz rollout. The rollout of base stations working in the 900MHz frequency band enables improvements of the signal travel distance and penetration parameters, allowing more stable connection for indoor, rural and remote areas. Smart Mobile's subscribers can talk, text and use mobile internet services in any province of the nation. On top to the nationwide coverage of Smart Mobile's GSM/GPRS/EDGE network, Smart Mobile's 3.75G HSPA/HSPA+ network, suitable for mobile internet, is available in fourteen provinces.
December 7, 2011
Customers call Metfone on promise
[PHNOM PENH POST]
Winning text messages in hand, about 25 angry Metfone customers
yesterday gathered at the telecom’s head office on Mao Tse Tung
Boulevard to demand the new iPhones they were promised.
Each of the customers had paid US$0.30 to enter a Metfone-sponsored contest and received a text message from the Vietnamese-owned company confirming they had won a new Apple iPhone 4S, which retails at between $649 and $849 in the US.
However, Metfone officials at the office claimed that the promissory messages were a technical malfunction, and tried to compensate the contest “winners” with an offer of $5 per person.
 |
| A customer displays the notification text message |
Each of the customers had paid US$0.30 to enter a Metfone-sponsored contest and received a text message from the Vietnamese-owned company confirming they had won a new Apple iPhone 4S, which retails at between $649 and $849 in the US.
However, Metfone officials at the office claimed that the promissory messages were a technical malfunction, and tried to compensate the contest “winners” with an offer of $5 per person.
December 2, 2011
ClickNet looks to have signed off
[PHNOM PENH POST]
A closed sign hung on the door of ClickNet’s Phnom Penh office during business hours yesterday, and the internet service provider’s Siem Reap office had also reportedly closed.
ClickNet’s internet service has been down in Siem Reap since Monday, Thaddée Bechtold, CEO at internet technologies firm SFPDA, said yesterday. Although ClickNet claimed technical problems at the time, a company representative on Wednesday told Bechtold that he could not reach ClickNet officials in Phnom Penh and that the ISP would discontinue the service.
“The good news is ClickNet closed just before [customers] pay their bills,” Bechtold said, referring to several SFPDA customers who used ClickNet’s server services.
ClickNet’s internet service has been down in Siem Reap since Monday, Thaddée Bechtold, CEO at internet technologies firm SFPDA, said yesterday. Although ClickNet claimed technical problems at the time, a company representative on Wednesday told Bechtold that he could not reach ClickNet officials in Phnom Penh and that the ISP would discontinue the service.
“The good news is ClickNet closed just before [customers] pay their bills,” Bechtold said, referring to several SFPDA customers who used ClickNet’s server services.
November 10, 2011
Metfone wins world communication award 2011
[Vietnam Investment Review]
Metfone, a Cambodia-based affiliate of the Vietnamese military-run
telecom group Viettel, won the “Best operator in a developing market”
award at the World Communication Awards 2011 ceremony held in London on
November 7.
The award aims to honour operators who possess innovative and unique solutions and overcome difficulties of a developing market to bring values to the society, community, customers and their own businesses.
Officially launched in 2009, Metfone is now the largest telecom service provider in Cambodia, accounting for 48 per cent of the market share with over 7 million subscribers.
The award aims to honour operators who possess innovative and unique solutions and overcome difficulties of a developing market to bring values to the society, community, customers and their own businesses.
Officially launched in 2009, Metfone is now the largest telecom service provider in Cambodia, accounting for 48 per cent of the market share with over 7 million subscribers.
November 4, 2011
TransferTo strikes deals in UAE, Cambodia, Nigeria
[TELECOM PAPER]
TransferTo, a global airtime remittance services provider and affiliate to worldwide provider of payment service Ingenico, has signed three new partnerships in the UAE, Cambodia and Nigeria. TransferTo has partnered Al Ansari in the UAE, MFone in Cambodia, Globacom in Nigeria and independent money transfer company Small World.
Al Ansari Exchange is a UAE-based exchange house network, worldwide remittance and foreign exchange services provider. Al Ansari Exchange selected TransferTo to launch an over-the-counter airtime transfer service, dubbed 'Cross-border Mobile Top-up'. Members of the UAE expat community and visitors can use the UAE branches of Al Ansari Exchange to send top-up credits for prepaid mobile phones of their relatives and friends in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Egypt and Sudan. To perform an international top-up, the sender needs to provide the mobile phone number of the recipient along with the selected top-up value at an Al Ansari Exchange branch. After making the payment, the transfer is then processed in real-time through TransferTo's platform. Once the transaction is completed the recipient is notified by SMS about the top-up credits received.
TransferTo, a global airtime remittance services provider and affiliate to worldwide provider of payment service Ingenico, has signed three new partnerships in the UAE, Cambodia and Nigeria. TransferTo has partnered Al Ansari in the UAE, MFone in Cambodia, Globacom in Nigeria and independent money transfer company Small World.
Al Ansari Exchange is a UAE-based exchange house network, worldwide remittance and foreign exchange services provider. Al Ansari Exchange selected TransferTo to launch an over-the-counter airtime transfer service, dubbed 'Cross-border Mobile Top-up'. Members of the UAE expat community and visitors can use the UAE branches of Al Ansari Exchange to send top-up credits for prepaid mobile phones of their relatives and friends in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Egypt and Sudan. To perform an international top-up, the sender needs to provide the mobile phone number of the recipient along with the selected top-up value at an Al Ansari Exchange branch. After making the payment, the transfer is then processed in real-time through TransferTo's platform. Once the transaction is completed the recipient is notified by SMS about the top-up credits received.
November 3, 2011
Tech talk with an industry veteran
[PHNOM PENH POST]
JAZZ Gill has had a long career in technology, telecommunications and private equity.
He set up a body-building and exercise goods distribution business when he was 18, which eventually led to the establishment of a software company. Later, he earned an MBA at Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine in London.
He also has worked in the development of new technologies for several global technology firms, including Global Crossing and Motorola. For the past three years, Gill has worked in Cambodia as a telecoms and technologies consultant, as well as associate partner at Leopard Capital.
 |
| Jazz Gill, a telecoms and technology consultant |
He set up a body-building and exercise goods distribution business when he was 18, which eventually led to the establishment of a software company. Later, he earned an MBA at Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine in London.
He also has worked in the development of new technologies for several global technology firms, including Global Crossing and Motorola. For the past three years, Gill has worked in Cambodia as a telecoms and technologies consultant, as well as associate partner at Leopard Capital.
October 28, 2011
When even nine [telcos] isn’t a crowd
[PHNOM PENH POST]
You could hear the collective sigh yesterday among Cambodia’s telecoms when news broke that Camintel would enter the mobile market late next year.
It was a sigh of frustration, however, rather than relief.
Camintel, a Korean-owned fixed-line company, will become the ninth mobile operator in a sector where profits are stretched thin (if they’re attained at all).
The number had shrunk to eight last summer when EMAXX bought perennial laggard Excell, but the sector’s much hoped-for consolidat-ion didn’t last.
Insiders and experts alike agree the market can support four operators at most.
You could hear the collective sigh yesterday among Cambodia’s telecoms when news broke that Camintel would enter the mobile market late next year.
It was a sigh of frustration, however, rather than relief.
Camintel, a Korean-owned fixed-line company, will become the ninth mobile operator in a sector where profits are stretched thin (if they’re attained at all).
The number had shrunk to eight last summer when EMAXX bought perennial laggard Excell, but the sector’s much hoped-for consolidat-ion didn’t last.
Insiders and experts alike agree the market can support four operators at most.
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