TOTAL investment in Cambodia’s telecom infrastructure had reached US$1.5 billion by 2010, Minister of Post and Telecommunications So Khun claimed yesterday.

As a result, the Kingdom now boasted more than 22,000 kilometres of fibre-optic cables and three international gateways, he said during a meeting with International Telecommunications Union (ITU) secretary-general Hamadoun Touré in Phnom Penh, according to a copy of his speech obtained yesterday.

“Cambodia has seen a fast and remarkable evolution in information and communication technologies in the last few years thanks to the open and free market in this sector and active participation from the private sector,” So Khun said.

The investment estimate figure included Royal Group’s intention to launch the country’s first satellite in early 2013, at a cost of between $250 million and $350 million.

“The Royal Government of Cambodia has approved … Royal Blue Skies to invest in this technology in order to enhance the quality and efficiency of the ICT applications and services,” he said, referring to information and communications technology.

The minister called on the ITU for assistance in launching the satellite, while also pointing to the Kingdom’s ICT development over recent years.

He claimed 13 million subscribers, or 91 per cent of Cambodia’s population of 14.3 mill-ion, used either a mobile or fixed phone service as of April 30. Some industry insiders have expressed doubts on the ministry’s subscriber numbers.