Cambodia aims at 100% mobile coverage with tower-sharing strategy
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Cambodia aims at 100% mobile coverage with tower-sharing strategy

Axiata’s tower company, Edotco, is aiding Cambodia’s aim to raise mobile coverage to 100%.

The company, which owns or manages 25,000 towers across Asia including 3,100 in Cambodia, is working with the government to Phillip Wong, its country managing director.

Speaking in an interview with Phnom Penh-based Khmer Times, Wong said: “We plan to build 600 new towers in the next three years. The Royal Government of Cambodia plans to transform the country through its policy ICT Connectedness and Readiness 2020 in the coming years to improve connectivity.”

The company plans “close to 2,500 towers” by the end of 2017 and it plans “to build at least another 200 by end of 2018”, Wong told the paper.

The government wants 100% broadband coverage in urban areas. In rural areas it wants 80% internet penetration and 70% coverage, he added. “Edotco Cambodia will play a big role in providing state-of-the-art solutions which will not only facilitate proliferation of mobile connectivity, but also maximise operational efficiencies though leveraging new technologies and alternate energies.”

The company acquired Smart Axiata’s towers in 2015, pushing its total to 1,800. “Today, nearly all mobile network operators in Cambodia are major customers of Edotco, such as Smart Axiata, Seatel, Xinwei, CamGSM, and Emaxx.”

Mobile penetration in Cambodia is already 100%, said Wong.




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