Slightly Interesting Cambodian Facts (12): Internet Users

Just 320,000 Cambodians were Internet users in 2010 according to government estimates.

In 2011 the number of users soared to 1.68 million.

It's little wonder then the Cambodian government is starting to draft laws that are seen by many as an effort to shut down political criticism. 

Cambodian Government Bans Phnom Penh Internet Cafes

Slowly but surely the Cambodian government strengthens its control over the access to information...

December 13, 2012 - 'The government has issued a new circular  ordering the closure of all Internet cafes within a 500 meter radius of schools and educational institutions – an order that, if implemented, would amount to a near-complete ban on such businesses in central Phnom Penh. 

The circular, issued by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications on November 12, 2012, also provides for further restrictions not limited by this school buffer zone. All Internet cafes are also required to forbid playing “all kinds of games,” essentially equating such activity with viewing pornography or committing crimes.

“This heavy-handed effort to shut down affordable and accessible venues for using the Internet in Cambodia is not only legally unfounded, it is a transparent attempt to block part of the population’s access to independent sources of information through news sites and social media,” said LICADHO Director Naly Pilorge.

The penalties for violating the circular appear to be forced closures, the confiscation of equipment, and arrest if a crime is committed.'

See the rest of LICADHO's press release here:

http://www.licadho-cambodia.org/pressrelease.php?perm=298

Account Overdue. Service Denied

We have been without internet for a few days. That wasn't because service was down, it was because we hadn't paid the bill; they cut us off because the account was one day overdue!

The difficulty is that our providers never send an account. That's understandable considering the postal system here. They used to send us a text message reminding us to pay and that worked well. But this time they 'were too busy,' to do so. And of course it doesn't help that they have never been able to advise us when the account should be paid each month.

So why do they wait just one day before cutting off service? I guess that's because there aren't too many options for a Cambodian company to collect on overdue accounts; the courts system is useless and their isn't the ultimate threat of calling in a credit agency to demand the money and/or ruin your credit rating.

Next month we will pay well before the time we 'think' payment might be due.

Ice Cubes and Email

After much discussion we were able to get 8 of the girl's from the HCC centre to visit us at our home. They arrived at 9 o'clock, a full 4 hours early!

They were all excited to be here- remember their lives revolve almost entirely around time spent in two institutions- school and the shelter. A trip then, to Phnom Penh and the home of a couple of foreigners was a big event.

None of the 8 had ever been on the Internet, and so, of course, not one had much idea about email let alone have an email address. So we explained email and set them up with addresses. Well some of them, it all took a while. Not because they were slow to pick things up, but because they took forever to choose log in names. Like anyone, anywhere, the name they chose had to be just right. We only had time to send a few test messages but the girls sat stunned as they followed the 'send and receive' process!

One girl wasn't so much engrossed in the internet as she was with the contents of our refrigerator (there isn't one at the centre). Opening the freezer door and seeing the cold mist was fascinating to her as were our perfectly formed ice cubes. That's because while ice is available in rural Cambodia it is something of a luxury. Usually the ice comes in big blocks which are loaded onto the back of trucks. Customers then decide how much ice they want and a piece is cut off with a hacksaw. Naturally, then, when we offered water to the girls they all wanted ice!

We are hoping and they are hoping that they can return this Sunday.

Making a Beeline for It

090 is a highly fashionable series of numbers in Phnom Penh.

090 at the beginning of your cell phone number means that you are with 'Beeline' a new Russian company that has stormed the Cambodian telecom market.

090 numbers are pushed with a super-slick marketing effort unparalleled in this country and as good as anything seen in the West. Cambodians are lapping it up as its promotional efforts draw throngs of new and excited customers into Beeline's sales offices.

090 numbers draw 'ooohs' and 'aaahs' when giving out such a phone number and even  a pre-paid Beeline card being carried on the street draws admiring glances.

It's not Beeline's service products that make it stand apart from the telecom pack- it's rates and coverage are similar to the others- it's simply that its marketing zings.

Beeline sets the standards for promotional and advertising efforts and the Cambodian public have responded. Other companies will quickly follow -they have too- and with that will come the need for a whole legion of copywriters, creatives and marketing experts. That means more jobs and more skills; it has to be a good thing.