Eric Lim, development director of Gateway Communications, said that adopting satellite technology could allow Cambodia to instantly link its government offices without the need for landlines or fibre optics
- From: Chim <ChimS1@xxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2009 01:08:31 -0800 (PST)
Satellite set to increase internet access among govt and rural
areas
Written by Hor Hab
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Satellite using Israeli technology will offer high-speed internet
access in Cambodian areas previously off-limits to the world wide web
A LOCALLY registered company hopes to link Cambodia's government
offices with a high-tech satellite communications system that it says
will push the Kingdom's public services into the 21st century.
Gateway Communications, which uses Gilat Satellite Networks technology
from Israel, launched its service in Cambodia last week at the Banking
Cambodia conference, saying it offers compact satellite link-ups for
high-speed internet, teleconferencing and video conferencing anywhere
in the country.
A lack of fibre-optic cables in rural areas makes high-speed internet
and telecommunications difficult.
He said the company is also in talks with NGOs, microfinance
institutions and banks. He said the company is also in talks with the
Ministry of Health to improve medical services.
Many of Cambodia's rural government offices are equipped with
unreliable landline service, making communication with Phnom Penh
difficult and slow.
Industry leaders have long pressed for an upgrade of the government's
technology.
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The technology can be installed everywhere – even in remote areas.
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"The government is the key engine to drive growth in this sector, but
ICT is not widely used in administration, and less than 20 percent of
private enterprises are using ICT," said Ken Chanthan, president of
the ICT Association of Cambodia.
For its part, the government has appointed a 200-strong task force to
connect government offices through a central network system and is
training 2,000 public servants in IT skills, said Phu Leewood from the
National ICT Development Authority.
But Eric Lim, development director of Gateway Communications, said
that adopting satellite technology could allow Cambodia to instantly
link its government offices without the need for landlines or fibre
optics.
"The technology won't become obsolete, even if fibre-optic cables are
extended throughout the country. The United States still uses
satellite, even though it has fibre optics. Fibre-optic cables can be
cut or damaged - satellite service is available 99.9 percent of the
time," he said at the conference.
"Technology can make Cambodia jump ahead without waiting for the
landline network to be connected. It's cheaper and quicker to deploy,"
Lim added.
"The technology can be installed everywhere - even in remote areas
because it consumes less than 20 watts, which can be used with solar
power."
The device is called a Very Small Aperture Terminal, or VSAT, and the
company says it is ideally suited for governments in developing
countries.
Training courses would also be offered to ministries, said the
company.
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