Everyone talks about how expensive and effortless internet connection is in Cambodia so this month topic I decided to bring some tips on how to stay connected back home with limited options.
A tipicle internet connection to your home or small offices are DSL, cable TV internet, wireless IPStar or WiMax. The well known providers (ISP) are Online, Citylink, WiCam, PPCTV, AngkorNet, MekongNet, ClickNet, EzCom, Camshin, …etc. In my opinion, when talking about internet solutions, we shouldn’t talk about which provider is bad, but focusing on which one works for you. Some say that cheap is good, and some even say it is very hard to fit their budget with the service that they are getting. From my experience with ISPs in Cambodia, it is very true that a good connection for a small office (10 to 15 people) is not easy to find. The quality of the service tends to go down after a while. You rather pay very little with very slow connection or pay arms and legs for a high speed like fiber connection.
A solution to that is preparing for a backup connection. If the internet connection is changing like a changing weather, why not bring an umbrella with you? I recommend many people to think about using 3G technology. Well, you might think new technology complicates think but surprisingly it’s a matter of one click. I personally share internet at home with my wife through a QB sim card. It cost us $38 per month with a data allowance up to 1.5GB download/upload. This is enough for a regular email and Internet uses. The speed is good. It works with a 3G phone or a USB 3G modem (as small as a USB flash drive) that cost you about $100 and a QB sim card is about $10. For people that don’t have 3G phone, you may ask the reseller to put sim card in a 3G phone to top-up credit. You can get a USB 3G modem in almost all computer shops in Phnom Penh. The sim card is everywhere. With above solution, you are not dependent on your office internet connection so much.
For people who travel to remote areas in Cambodia that 3G can’t reach, a GPRS internet can also keep you connected. I use 3G connection with Mobitel (012, 017, 092 & 089) on my phone. It works ok in Phnom Penh, but be slower when I travel to provinces. It’s not cheap, but I like to keep everything on my phone as a tool ready to go. I read email, news, ebooks and search quick info on the Internet from my Windows Mobile phone. For business people that likes black berry phone, you can also get a corporate email collaboration on it through Hello GSM (015 & 016) provider. It will cost you $60 per month. Internet charge is the same as Mobitel $00.05/kb. It cost me about $20/month for internet on my phone.
