PHNOM PENH: Cambodia is officially set to launch commercial fifth-generation (5G) mobile telecommunications services beginning in 2026, a move the Royal Government hailed Friday as a critical major milestone in the nation’s ambitious digital transformation agenda.
The Ministry of Post and Telecommunications (MPTC) announced the formal timeline following the conclusion of strategic agreements with “friendly nations and development partners.”
The landmark decision was inaugurated at a ceremony presided over by Permanent Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Vongsey Vissoth, Minister in Charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers, signaling high-level Royal Government commitment to the technology.
The MPTC emphasised that the introduction of 5G is poised to deliver wide-ranging economic and social benefits. The technology promises data speeds up to 10 times faster than 4G, dramatically improving: Download Speeds and high-definition video streaming; Reliability of digital services; Ultra-low latency to support critical real-time applications such as intelligent traffic management and emergency response systems.
Crucially, the new network will significantly expand connectivity capacity, enabling millions of devices to be connected per square kilometre. This capacity is seen as the essential digital foundation for developing: Smart Cities; Digital Agriculture: Smart Manufacturing.
Authorities project that enhanced 5G connectivity will accelerate the development of Cambodia’s digital ecosystem, driving productivity gains across key sectors including manufacturing, logistics, fintech, e-commerce, and technology startups.
Public services are also anticipated to improve significantly, making state services across e-health, e-education, and e-government faster, more efficient, and more accessible to citizens.
The Royal Government maintains that the nationwide 5G deployment will strengthen economic resilience by attracting new foreign direct investment, creating high-value jobs, and enhancing Cambodia’s regional and international competitiveness.
“5G is not merely faster internet,” the MPTC stated. “It is a foundational digital infrastructure that will underpin Cambodia’s future innovation, modernisation, and inclusive digital growth.”
The ministry confirmed it has completed extensive studies on deployment models and has been working closely with all domestic telecommunications operators to ensure technical readiness, service quality, and a seamless transition toward nationwide commercial operations starting in 2026.