Phnom Penh (FN), Nov. 22 -- On Nov 20-21, 2019 at Hotel Cambodiana, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and Handicraft of the Kingdom of Cambodia organized Digitalization and the Fourth Industrial Revolution workshop, intending to update policymakers on current trends and policies related to the challenges and opportunities posed by the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).

Aiming at updating policymakers about the latest trends in 4IR, workshop have arranged the panel discussion joining by H.E. Sarun Rithea, Secretary of state, Ministry of industry and handicraft of Cambodia, Dr. Pichet Durongkaveroj, Former Minister of Digital Economy and Society of Thailand, Dr. Sanghoon KIM is a Fellow for Research in Korea Institute for the KIET, and also an Advisor to the Minister at the MoTIE, South Korea and also representative from private sector, Victor Zhang, Huawei Cambodia & Laos CTO.

Victor Zhang emphasized that it’s time to launch 5G now, which enables the key ICT infrastructure to achieve the goal of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). “2020 will mark an important milestone in the ICT history, as it will be the year that marks the start of 5G's large-scale commercial use. If we relook the 2G, 3G, 4G, they are mainly the connection of people. In 5G era, it is able to connect everything, open collaboration across industries. While we are talking about the IR4.0, we are talking the IABC (IoT, AI, Big Data, Cloud), and 5G is the key ICT infrastructure and enabler for digital transformation. Without 5G , all the applications above mentioned is impossible. ” said Victor during the panel discussion.

“We are so proud to witness Cambodia launching its 4G in 2012, which ranked No.2 in ASEAN. Making the digital vision a reality requires the joint efforts of governments, investors, industries and the whole of society,” he add. “A long-term view for governments to create an investment-friendly environment for carriers, increase investment in ICT infrastructure, introduce policies such as tax incentives to boost the digital economy, and provide big bandwidth, and affordable spectrum with positive policy to gear up 5G rollout.”

“All operators in Cambodia have initiated the 5G trial, they are now waiting anxiously for 5G commercial license, and the current Mobile broadband experience can be further improved by 5G, and among 3.5M household in Cambodia only 6% have access to home broadband. 5G is the most efficient way to improve the home broadband penetration. 50 thousand enterprises in Phnom Penh, Sihavoukville, Seam Reap, and Battambang ,5G will be the right choice for these 2B users” he said.

Victor emphasized that with leading technologies such as 5G, Cloud and AI, Huawei is committed to be the enabler of digital Cambodia as well as ASEAN, by providing national digital strategy consultation, supporting digital transformation in various industries, building prosperous industrial ecosystem and cultivating digital workforce. Along the way, Huawei has trained several hundred ICT talents in Cambodia through our sponsored and self-developed programs such as “Seeds for the Future”, “Huawei Authorized Information and Network Academy”. And for the year 2020, Huawei Cambodia is planning to initiate 5G FutureSeeds Program to help Cambodia cultivate local 5G talents and better embrace for the IR4.0.