The number of internet subscribers in Cambodia increased significantly last year, reaching a total of 5.02 million by December 2014, up 30 per cent from the end of 2013.

In 2014 there were 1.16 million new internet subscribers, joining the 3.86 million existing subscribers at the end of 2013, according to figures from Telecom Regulator Cambodia.

Mao Chakrya, chairman of the TRC, said yesterday that it was difficult to determine the number of people actually using the internet as each subscription usually had multiple users. He added, however, that the increase in subscriptions, thanks to lower industry costs, indicated that more Cambodians were online.

“[The internet] is a key tool for people to connect and communicate, serving for development across all sectors. Once it is developed, it reflects the active progress of economic activity,” he said.

While internet subscriptions are on the rise, mobile phone subscriptions are beginning to plateau and fixed line subscriptions have started to decline.

According to the TRC there were 20.45 million mobile phone subscribers at the end of 2014 up from 20.26 million in 2013.

Chakrya said with a population of 15 million, some subscribers had multiple SIM cards and the industry had reached saturation. Further consolidation in the sector he said would bring that penetration number down in the future.

The number of fixed phone subscribers meanwhile has declined from 420,900 in 2013 to 361,000 at the end of last year.