COMMUNICATION
The advent of mobile phones has dramatically
improved communications between the main
towns. That said, many of the landlines
destroyed during the Khmer Rouge era have
yet to be replaced, and the lack of phone
lines not only hinders ordinary business but
also keeps Internet access costs high
everywhere except Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.
It's only been a few years since mail
destined for Cambodia had to be collected in
Bangkok, but the postal service is now
reasonably reliable, although inbound letter
that attract the attention of staff-there's
no rhyme or reason to this-often get
pilfered.
Mail
All Cambodia's mail is consolidated in Phnom
Penh. Sending mail from provincial cities
seems as reliable as posting from the
capital, though it costs a little more as
you'll be charged for your mail to go to
Phnom Penh first. Within the capital itself,
only the main post office is geared up to
accept mail bound for abroad.
Mail to Europe, Australasian and North
America takes between five and ten days to
arrive, leaving Phnom Penh for major
international destinations around twice a
week the specific days can be checked at the
main post office. Stamps for postcards sent
from the capital cost 1800 Riel to Europe
and Australia, 2100 Riel to America (add 300
Riel if posting from the provinces).
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Parcels can only be posted in Phnom Penh,
though at a whopping $17 for a one
kilogramme parcel going abroad, it's worth
deferring the task if you are subsequently
heading to Thailand. You'll be charge 3000
Riel for the the customs form, detailing the
contents and their value, to be completed,
but it isn't necessary to leave the package
open for checking. Post offices sell mailing
boxes if you need them.
Express mails also can be sent by most
well-known global courier service companies
including DHL Express, Fedex, UPS, TNT and
more. |
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Phones
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You can make domestic and international
calls at post offices or telecom offices in
most towns. The government
telecommunications network; Camintel (W) (www.camintel.com)
usually runs these services, which along
with the Australian firm Telstra, also runs
public call boxes in Phnom Penh. To use
these, you'll need a phone card, available
in denominations ranging from $2 to $50;
look for shops displaying the phone cards
can't be used in each other's facilities,
but with a Tele 2 phone card, you can make
international calls from any call box by
dialing the access code (T) 007 (instead of
the usual (T) 001), then the country code
and number as usual. With any of these
options, making international calls is
expensive at around $3 per minute, so It's
worth looking out for deals offered by
internet shops, guesthouses and travel
agents, which can as much as halve the cost.
For domestic calls only, the cut-price
glass-sided booths, payable to the
attendant. The booths vary in their coverage
of Cambodia's various networks: accessible
numbers will be written on the side of the
booths (usually (T) 012 MobiTel numbers -
see below - plus the local area code and
sometimes other mobile providers). |
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Faxing is extortionate in Cambodia, at $3-$6
per page. If you really must send a fax, the
hotel business central and internet shops
are the most reliable place to do so.
Mobile Phones
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There are three mobile phone service
providers in Cambodia: M Phone code (T) 011,
MobiTel (T) 012, Bee Line (T) 090, Smart
Mobiel (T) 010, Star Cell (T) 098, Cube (T)
013 and MetFone (T) 097. MobiTel is the most widely used network
and has transmitters in all major towns,
although reception is still limited to
within the town boundaries. Mobile phones
can be rented in the arrivals hall at Phnom
Penh International Airport for around $28
per week. |
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Usage is by pre-paid phone card,
available in values from $5 to $100; in most towns,
you'll find outlets displaying the logos of the
various providers. When you get your card, scratch
off the panel on the back to reveal your PIN, then
call up the top-up number-also given on the card-and
enter the number to activate the card. Call rates
are around $0.20 per minute within the same mobile
network number or out to a local landline.
Internet access
If you want to get online, do it in Phnom
Penh or Siem Reap - here you're never far
from an Internet shop or café and rates are
under $1 per hour. In the provinces it's a
different matter: even in Battambang and
Sihanoukville access is limited, and
expensive at around $3 per hour. One of the
best ways to keep in touch while traveling
is to sign up for a free email address that
can be accessed from anywhere, for example
Yahoo Mail or Hotmail. Once you've set up
and send mail from any Internet Café, or
from a hotel with Internet access.
There are many Internet Service
Provider companies in Cambodia including: Ezecom,
AngkorNet, MekongNet, Camintel, Telecom Cambodia's
Camnet, Camshin.net, Citylink, Online,
TeleSURF, PPCTV Broadband Internet Service, DTV
STAR, WirelessIP Internet Service Provider.
Recently, there are many
restaurants and café shop like the M Café, the
Corner restaurant, Café Sentiment and more offers
free internet access with WI-FI - there you just
bring your own laptop only.
Broadcast Radio stations
Apsara Radio FM 97 MHz
National Radio Kampuchea (RNK)
Phnom Penh Radio FM 103 MHz
Radio Beehive FM 105 MHz
Radio FM 90.5 MHz
Radio FM 99 MHz
Voice of America Khmer
Radio Free Asia
Radio Khmer FM 107
Radio Love FM 97.5 MHz
Royal Cambodia Armed Forces Radio FM 98 MHz
Women's Media Centre (WMC) Radio FM 102 MHz
Broadcast TV stations
Apsara Television (TV11)
Bayon Television
Cambodian Television Network (CTN)
National Television of Cambodia (TVK)
Phnom Penh Television (TV3)
Royal Cambodia Armed Forces Television (TV5)
DTV STAR [16] (Digi)
Cambodia Cable Television (CCTV)
Phnom Penh Municipal Cable Television (PPCTV)
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