Sales of SIM cards reached 19.7 million last year, a 21 per cent rise from the 16.2 million sold in 2011, data from the Ministry of Post and Telecommunication (MPTC) shows.

Telecommunication Minister So Khun said this growth showed the progress of Cambodia’s telco sector.

“The surprising progress [of the sector] has... attracted more investors to actively develop it,” he said.

In contrast to the use of SIM cards, the number of telco operators decreased.

In 2011, eight such companies operated in Cambodia. Only six were left at the beginning of this year after Hello Axiata bought Latelz, which owned Smart Mobile, and Mfone filed for bankruptcy.

Sarak Khan, secretary of state at the MPTC, said price competition would continue to take its toll.

“The reduction of prices by mobile operators has resulted in loss of profit. In the future, I think there will be only three providers,” Khan said.

Meanwhile, internet usage is expanding at breakneck pace. Ministry data shows the number of internet users in Cambodia climbed to 2.7 million last year, a rise of 60 per cent from 2011.