The Cambodian government plans to launch its first communications satellite by as early as 2021, and will conduct a feasibility study within a year.
The satellite project is projected to cost around $150 million and the satellite will have a lifespan of seven years, the Bangkok Post reported, citing comments from an official at the Telecom Regulator of Cambodia (TRC).
TRC and the Ministry of Post and Telecom have partnered with Royal Blue Skies and Beijing-based China Great Wall Industry Corporation, and these partnerships are expected to allow Cambodia to launch a satellite within three years, compared to the standard of seven, the official said.
China Great Wall Industry Corporation already has experience launching a satellite in Laos and will be able to take this experience to the Cambodian project.
The feasibility study will be used to gauge the potential demand for satellite services and determine how much the government should invest in the project.
In March, a new subsea cable was launched connecting Cambodia with Malaysia and Thailand. The 1,300km Malaysia-Cambodia-Thailand (MCT) cable system was built by a joint venture between Cambodia's EZECOM, Telekom Malaysia and Symphony Communication of Thailand.