WiMAX licensees still awaiting spectrum allocation

According to a report by The Phnom Penh Post, telecoms operators which have been licensed to provide WiMAX services in Cambodia are still awaiting the relevant frequencies from the government. The companies, which include Wireless IP, Angkor Data Communication Group, CityLink, Craig Wireless Systems and Global Telecom, were granted licences to operate WiMAX services in the 2.5GHz to 2.7GHz frequency range last year, but the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MPTC) has awarded spectrum in the same bands to Star Digital TV. In January 2010 seven internet service providers (ISPs) affected by the delay lodged a complaint about the allocation of the spectrum, which had already been promised to the ISPs for WiMAX use. Despite a number of meetings between operators and the MPTC, the issue has yet to be resolved. Sok Channda, CEO of Cambodia Data Communications, parent company of ISPs Mekong Net and AngkorNet, said that business has been affected by the delay as the company has invested in the provision of services and signed a ten-year partnership to launch the technology. Meanwhile, Hy Borin, system administrator at ISP Wicam, said the company had invested around USD30,000 in the rollout of WiMAX base stations.