Cambodia Opens Digital Government Forum 2025 with Major 5G and Digital Cooperation Announcements

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Cambodia Opens Digital Government Forum 2025 with Major 5G and Digital Cooperation Announcements
Cambodia Opens Digital Government Forum 2025 with Major 5G and Digital Cooperation Announcements./B2B Cambodia

The Digital Government Forum 2025 officially opened on 5 December 2025, marking the second edition of the event organised by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MPTC). This year’s Day 1 theme focused on Digital Statecraft and Governance, bringing together government leaders, international partners, and digital industry stakeholders.

The opening ceremony was presided over by H.E. Vongsey Vissoth, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister in Charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers; H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary General of ASEAN; as well as representatives from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT), UN ESCAP, and other international organisations.

H.E. Chea Vandeth noted that this is the second year the event has been held since its debut in 2024, which was joined by Prime Minister Hun Manet. He said the forum aims to promote experience-sharing in digital transformation, strengthen cooperation among policymakers, digital experts, and practitioners, and showcase digital innovations from governments across the region. 

H.E. Chea Vandeth during the panel discussion./B2B Cambodia 

He added that participation has expanded beyond ASEAN to include partners from other parts of Asia.

H.E. Chea Vandeth, Minister of Posts & Telecommunications, stated:

Digital technology is no longer optional, it has become a necessary input for every country seeking economic growth and social development. As digital technologies advance at a rapid pace, each nation must make strategic decisions to ensure that the benefits of digital transformation are equitably shared, sustainable, and aligned with national ownership in development, governance, and societal progress.

He emphasised that, for Cambodia, the Pentagonal Strategy Phase I, the Digital Economy and Society Framework, and the Digital Government Policy clearly outline the country’s goals and priority tasks for driving national digital transformation.

H.E. Vongsey Vissoth encouraged MPTC to continue investing in telecommunications infrastructure and urged the Digital Government Committee and other government bodies to adopt digital technologies in a coordinated manner. 

He noted that some agencies have been working independently and stressed the importance of collaboration with MPTC to achieve the Royal Government’s shared digital development objectives.

H.E. Vongsey Vissoth./B2B Cambodia 

He praised early achievements such as the DG Super App, CamDX, and Bakong, as well as the upcoming rollout of Cambodia’s 5G network by early next year. He further highlighted that digital technology will support SME growth, enhance productivity, and equip the general population with essential skills.

Tiziana Bonapace, Director of the ICT and Disaster Risk Reduction Division (IDD) at UN ESCAP, commended Cambodia for its rapid progress in the digital sector in recent years.

“This includes the launch of Cambodia's first national artificial intelligence strategy and policy, the successful rollout of the Cambodia Digital Economy and Society Policy 2021–2035, the expansion of 5G networks and fibre infrastructure, and the explosive growth of digital payments and e-government services that now reach millions of citizens.”

She added that these achievements are the result of strong political will, leadership, effective implementation, and international cooperation. ESCAP expressed high appreciation for Cambodia’s constructive partnership.

As part of the Day 1 programme, MPTC signed five key Memoranda of Understanding to advance Cambodia’s digital development:

  • Omni-Channel Public Service Delivery Cooperation with Azerbaijan’s State Agency for Public Services and Social Innovation.
  • Digital Government Cooperation with the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of Kazakhstan.
  • Partnership MOU with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP).
  • FEXTE Grant Support Agreement with the French Development Agency (AFD) to develop Cambodia’s strategic and regulatory digital government framework.
  • Cybersecurity Awards 2026 Co-Organising Agreement with TATIUS Limited of the United Kingdom.

A major highlight of the forum was Cambodia’s announcement of its 5G mobile service rollout, scheduled to begin in January 2025. According to MPTC, 5G will deliver speeds up to 10 times faster than 4G, forming a critical foundation for the country’s digital transformation, innovation ecosystem, and new economic opportunities.

On the sidelines of the event, ByteDC Solutions Co., Ltd., a premier Tier III data centre operator, officially launched ByteDC Cloud—Cambodia’s first high-performance sovereign cloud platform, powered by Huawei Cloud Stack.

The forum will continue over the next two days. Day 2 will focus on Digital Society & Global Collaboration and the Cambodia Digital Awards, while Day 3 will highlight Digital Economy & Infrastructure.