Smart Axiata last week started construction of a base transceiver station tower in Kampong Chhnang, a project that will widen the reach and increase the speed of mobile internet services in the Kingdom.
Viettel, a Vietnamese mobile operator and the owner of Metfone, launched a base station in the same province last week.
The two telecommunications facilities are being built as part of the companies’ responsibility towards the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USO Fund), which was established under the country’s telecommunications laws and require all telcos to contribute two percent of their gross revenue to reduce the digitisation gap between the cities and the rural areas.
Thomas Hundt, Smart Axiata’s CEO, said the construction of the infrastructure reflects the company’s commitment to the USO Funds and is part of its efforts to provide fast and modernised telecom services with affordable pricing in the Kingdom.
“The construction today is the starting point of our obligation in the framework of the USO to continue to expand our network coverage across the Kingdom, that which will help more Cambodians get access to mobile and internet services to participate in the digital age,” Mr Hundt said.
Tram Iv Tek, the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, said the project lays the foundation for the deployment of 3G and 4G services in the province.
He said the construction of the new tower is just one of many projects that will be carried out in a number of prioritised areas under the USO Fund strategy for 2017-2018. Apart from Kampong Chhnang, the prioritised areas are in Kandal, Preah Sihanouk and Koh Kong provinces.
