Emaxx to invest USD148 million in infrastructure projects

Cambodian broadband company Emaxx has revealed it will invest USD148 million in new infrastructure projects, as part of plans to transform itself from a retail provider into a wholesale fibre-optic and 4G network supplier. The Phnom Penh Post cites the company’s CEO Ai Min as saying at a press conference that the company has finalised the purchase of 3,000km of fibre-optic infrastructure from Chinese-owned Cambodia Fibre Optic Communication Network, which it says will support the rollout of a nationwide 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network with up to 600 base stations across the country. Work will begin in October, with around 100 base stations scheduled to be built in Phnom Penh by the end of the year. When completed, the network will be leased to retail telecoms firms such as mobile operators and other ISPs. Two USD24 million data centres – one in the capital and another in Bavet – will also be built, with work expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2015. The announcement follows the acquisition of a 65% stake in Emaxx by Chinese firm Shenzhen Keybridge Communications (SKC) earlier this year. Commenting on the decision to focus on providing infrastructure rather than consumer products, SKC president Ye Qiong said: ‘We have budgeted USD148 million for the new infrastructure projects . . . Now, instead of being competitors with other ISPs, we will become co-operators.’