Cellular telephones, the favoured tool of mobile executives the world over, will

soon be a common sight in Phnom Penh.

The State of Cambodia's Department of Posts and Telecommunications, under an agreement

with Telecom Asia, a Thai Company, will run the system with equipment supplied by

the U.S.-based Motorola company, a project source said.

The American company is to set up cell sites and switching systems and, if all goes

well, the system should be on line starting Oct. 18. Motorola and other companies

will be able to provide the phones, at a cost of approximately U.S. $2,000.

The main market is likely to come from U.N. officials-though UNTAC already has its

own small cellular phone network-while local and overseas traders are also a realistic

target. The source said the system being installed was expandable, but added, "We'll

probably start out with a couple of thousand [phone outlets]."

"Bangkok has 50,000 on one system," he said, "but I don't think Phnom

Penh will have 50,000."

Cellular phones will be good news to those fed up with waiting weeks for installation

of international and local lines.

- Leo Dobbs