TALLINN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES RAGNAR NURKSE SCHOOL OF INNOVATION AND GOVERNANCE Rattanak Te Internet Penetration and Optimal Policy for Improving Connectivity in Cambodia Thesis in Partial Fulfillment for the Master of Arts Degree in Technology Governance Supervisor: Professor Dr. Dr.h.c. Wolfgang Drechsler Tallinn 2014 I hereby declare that the current Master Thesis is the outcome of my independent study and has been submitted to Tallinn University of Technology only. No degree has been obtained previously with this research. Author Rattanak Te 01 September 2014 The Master‟s Thesis meets the established criteria. Supervisor Professor Dr.Dr.h.c. Wolfgang Drechsler 01 September 2014 Accepted for defense “….” …………………..…….. 2014 The Chair of the Defense Committee of Master‟s Theses, Professor Dr. Rainer Kattel Table of Contents Acknowledgement .......................................................................................................................... 1 Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... 2 Lühikokkuvõte ................................................................................................................................ 3 List of Tables and Figures .............................................................................................................. 4 List of Abbreviations ...................................................................................................................... 5 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 7 1. ICT ........................................................................................................................................... 7 2. Cambodia and ASEAN ............................................................................................................. 11 3. Overview of Cambodia ............................................................................................................. 14 3.1 Demography ........................................................................................................................ 14 3.2 Economy.............................................................................................................................. 15 3.3 Government ......................................................................................................................... 16 3.4 Human Development........................................................................................................... 17 4. ICT and Its Roles in Development ........................................................................................... 17 4.1 Conceptualization of ICT Use in National Development ................................................... 17 4.2 ICT Impact Conceptualization ............................................................................................ 19 5. Governmental Goals in Promoting Connectivity ...................................................................... 20 5.1 National ICT Vision ............................................................................................................ 21 5.2 National ICT Mission .......................................................................................................... 21 5.3 Goals.................................................................................................................................... 21 5.4 Policy Objectives................................................................................................................. 21 5.4.1 ICT Framework ............................................................................................................ 22 5.4.2 ICT Service ................................................................................................................... 23 5.4.3 ICT Infrastructure ......................................................................................................... 24 5.4.4 ICT Development ......................................................................................................... 24 5.4.5 Commitment to Global Issues ...................................................................................... 26 6. ICT and Connectivity Development in Cambodia ................................................................... 26 6.1 Fixed-line Telephones ......................................................................................................... 26 6.2 Mobile Telephones .............................................................................................................. 27 6.3 Internet ................................................................................................................................ 27 6.4 Promoting ICT and Its Challenges ...................................................................................... 30 7. Comparative Cases ................................................................................................................... 34 1 Vietnam .................................................................................................................................. 34 a. History of the Internet in Vietnam ................................................................................. 34 b. Internet Development in Vietnam .................................................................................. 35 c. Internet Policy in Vietnam ............................................................................................. 36 2 Laos ........................................................................................................................................ 38 a. History of the Internet in Laos ....................................................................................... 38 b. Internet Development in Laos ........................................................................................ 40 c. Internet Policy in Laos ................................................................................................... 41 3 Myanmar ................................................................................................................................ 42 a. History of the Internet in Myanmar................................................................................ 42 b. Internet Development in Myanmar ................................................................................ 43 c. Internet Policy in Myanmar............................................................................................ 45 8. Analysis and Policy Recommendations .................................................................................... 46 8.1 Analysis for Cambodia and the 3 Cases .............................................................................. 46 8.2 Policy Recommendations .................................................................................................... 51 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 54 9. Scope and Limitations of the Research ..................................................................................... 56 References ..................................................................................................................................... 57 Appendix ....................................................................................................................................... 70 Acknowledgement I would like to express my appreciation to those who provided valuable advice and assistance during the preparation of this thesis. From the bottom of my heart, I would like to immensely and wholeheartedly thank my thesis supervisor Prof. Dr. Dr.h.c. Wolfgang Drechsler for enormously and endlessly supporting and guiding me since the beginning of my research. Without his facilitation, motivation and suggestions, my thesis would not have been accepted for defense. Next, I am also very thankful to Prof. Dr. Rainer Kattel for granting me the Ragnar Nurkse Scholarship to pursue a master‟s degree in the Technology Governance Program at the Ragnar Nurkse School of Innovation and Governance of the Tallinn University of Technology. My appreciation also goes to all academic staff at the university, especially Egert, Andreas, and my Estonian friends for taking care of me during my stay in Tallinn. Thanks also to Ingbert Edenhofer for the language and format editing. Last but not least, I would like to thank my parents, brothers, sisters and all friends for providing me support both emotionally and financially from Cambodia. I am absolutely delighted that my thesis has been successfully completed. The result would not have been this possible if there had been no guidance and strong support from the above people. This research enables me to broaden and deepen the knowledge about the situation of ICT in Cambodia and how government sets the policies to overcome the challenges which are the constraints of economic development. Importantly, I am able to acquire new knowledge and skills after completing this research thesis. However, I may say that my research is still improvable due to some constraints and limitations. Therefore, I am happy and waiting for all ideas, opinions and criticism for the sake of improvement and development in the future. 1