CellCard - July 2020

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Delivering Cambodia’s 5G digital transformation

CELLCARD

IN ASSOCIATION WITH DIGITAL REPORT 2020


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Delivering Cambodia’s 5G digital transformation WRITTEN BY

MATT HIGH

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PRODUCED BY

GLEN WHITE


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CELLCARD

Cellcard’s CEO, Ian Watson, discusses how the telecoms company is enabling a 5G-driven digitisation of Cambodia

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igital technology and the greater use of data have irreversibly changed virtually every industry, and the telecoms sector

is no exception. Indeed, the advent of one specific innovation has forever changed the way that we communicate, bank, work and engage with the 04

world, as well as our expectations as consumers: the smartphone. “The smartphone has become one of the most important tools in our lives,” shares Ian Watson, CEO of telecoms leader, Cellcard. “The smartphone is your connection to the digital world. It is the means to purchase items and pay bills, the vault which holds the data of your life via photographs and videos, an assistant which tells you where you need to be, and can act as the advisor of how to get there. It can measure your health and advise you on issues, and is the instrument which allows you to receive your correspondence and entertainment.” Cellcard is at the forefront of telecommunications innovation and digital transformation. The business, which is fully Cambodian-owned and

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CELLCARD

“ We view Cellcard as moving away from the traditional mobile network operator model to being a full digital life service provide” — Ian Watson, CEO, Cellcard 06

operated, is committed to providing access to mobile technology and connectivity to all Cambodians, regardless of their location. In doing so, it has risen to become the preeminent telecoms company in the Kingdom - it was the first to offer nationwide coverage and prepaid services in 1998, the first to provide a 3G network with streaming services in 2005 and, in 2010, the first to launch a mobile payments platform. More recently, Cellcard is now the operator of Cambodia’s fastest 4G

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07 network, with the Kingdom experi-

its own transformational journey. “We

encing a 36% growth in mobile data

view Cellcard as moving away from

subscribers since its launch.

the traditional mobile network opera-

In short, Cellcard sets the standard

tor model to being a full digital lifestyle

for telecoms innovation in Cambodia.

service provider,” he explains. “We’ll

With Watson at the helm, however, it

make sure that your device – whether

doesn’t rest on its laurels. The busi-

a handheld or wearable device - is

ness is currently dedicated to driving

truly connected to the world. It’s all

and leading Cambodia’s ongoing

part of a wider ecosystem that we’re

digitalisation through the develop-

building that we call our ‘walled gar-

ment and launch of the Kingdom’s

den’. When you’re in our garden you’ll

first 5G network. As Watson reveals

be able to access all the services you

during the course of our conversation,

need. It will be a great place to be

despite its technology-first approach,

that’s driven by the latest technology,

this has also seen Cellcard undergo

and you won’t want to leave.” w w w. b u s in e s s c hie f. a s ia


Building a Fully Connected, Intelligent World “Huawei, our key strategic partner has been working side-by-side with Cellcard on 4G projects within many key cities and provinces in 2019. With the support from Huawei’s high technology solution, we have completed the first real 5G trial test in Cambodia following the download speed that reached 1.6Gbps with lower latency rate at less than 10ms. Cellcard is confident in choosing Huawei to embrace digital life to every person, home and organization in Cambodia for an intelligent future with intelligent connections.”

Let’s Move Forward to a 5G Era


“ The smartphone connects you to the world” — Ian Watson, CEO, Cellcard The industry is changing rapidly, particularly in Cambodia. Watson explains that while this is in part driven by the evolution of technology, it is also a product of the broader change in the Kingdom. “It’s not the biggest that survive, it’s those that adapt the quickest. As we move into the digital world, it’s vital to be up to speed with those changes and all of the dynamic developments around 5G and other telecom innovations. “The key driver of change, particularly in Cambodia, is the increasing appetite for large data,” he continues. “If you look at the history of the country, there has never been a fixed line infrastructure. Instead,

E X E C U T I V E P R OF IL E :

Ian Watson Ian Watson is recognised within the telecommunications community as one of the leading figures in relation to 5G and digital transformation having built a 30-year career in the industry across global markets. His most recent industry recognition was the 5G Asia People’s Choice Award for Operator CXO of the Year. He has also gained significant exposure in the past year as the driving force behind one of the most aggressive 4G roll-outs in the SE Asian region, achieving for three years running both the Ookla and Opensignal Awards. His focus now is firmly set on driving the digitisation of Cambodia with early adoption of pre-5G and the introduction of 5G across the key segments of Consumer, Government and Corporate.

as we’ve moved into the digital age, Cambodians have gone straight to mobile broadband, mobile data and connectivity. At the same time, we w w w. b u s in e s s c hie f. a s ia

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CELLCARD

C E L LC A R D : U S I N G 5 G T O C O M B AT C OV I D -1 9

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In March Cellcard announced the Kingdom’s first use of 5G for a telemedicine service at four locations across Phnom Penh to help with critically ill patients. Cellcard demonstrated 5G speeds of more than 1.6 gigabits per second, and installed the service at: • The Khmer Soviet Friendship Hospital • The Chak Angre Health Center • Ministry of Health • Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications The initiative was led by Royal Group Chairman Neak Oknha Kith Meng in full cooperation with both Ministries. Watson says: “the Chairman of the company is Cambodian and his mantra is to support the digitalisation of Cambodia with the Royal Government. Cellcard will be the leading 5G digital network and will drive that vision.”

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Cellcard Chairman Kith Meng

5G live test


have a very young demographic

he explains. “It is for sure going to

– 60% of the Cambodian population

be a strong force in the global digital

is under 30 years of age. This is gen-

transformation, and a leading pro-

eration X. It’s people who want to be

ponent of the digital world. We, as a

connected, to be social, bank and shop

company, are very much part of that

through their devices, it’s an absolutely

journey culturally too.

modern lifestyle and we have to be sure we’re providing for that.” Cambodian lifestyle and the cul-

“We pride ourselves on our Cambodian heritage; 99% of our employees are Cambodian,” Watson

ture that pervades throughout the

continues. “But you can’t be digital

Kingdom is important internally, too,

on the outside unless you’re digital

says Watson. Indeed, as the company

on the inside. As a result, and as part

navigates the rollout of 5G, he finds

of this journey to the 5G digitialsing of

the strong cultural aspect of Cellcard

Cambodia, we’re having to re-engineer

to be vital to progress. “One of the

and reprocess virtually the entire

things that attracted me to Cambodia

company from the top down. And it’s

is the culture, it’s so rich and diverse,”

not just about processes, it’s about people, having good digital change managers and a concerted effort to bring the whole company into the digital world.” It is also, says Watson, about building and developing technology that is embedded in that Cambodian heritage. “For example, we’ve created a Cambodian Chat app called Mith Laor, which means ‘good friends’. The app includes a TV platform to host video and other content, a payment platform that sees us explore more w w w. b u s in e s s c hie f. a s ia

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lifestyle-type services, and more. It’s

completed, will see it “having built one

all part of this broader end-to-end

of the best, most dynamic digital 5G

digital platform that we will deliver

platforms not only in Cambodia, but in

through the 5G rollout, and it all works

the world”, says Watson.

through a smartphone app. To ensure

Cellcard has several sites that it

this is best-in-class we’re already

has been running for some time as

looking to integrate other innovations,

part of that process. The company

such as AI, integrated voice assistants,

recently used its 5G infrastructure

chatbots and robotics”.

to provide an important service as

As to the implementation, Watson

part of Cambodia’s efforts to combat

explains that Cellcard’s network is pre-

the COVID-19 pandemic. In March it

5G enabled, with all 5G testing already

announced the Kingdom’s first use

being concluded some two years ago.

of 5G for a telemedicine service at

The company is currently working with

four locations across Phnom Penh

the government ministries on a test

to help with critically ill patients. The

and releasing spectrum that, once

service allowed doctors to use video

MONTH 2019


“ To have a dynamic 5G network it has to be accessible. It must be fast and deliver everything that we promise” — Ian Watson, CEO, Cellcard

been helped and underpinned by our existing, superfast 4G network too, which remains the best performing in Cambodia.” Naturally, any significant transformation journey brings challenges and a degree of change management. For example, says Watson, a company can’t digitalise if it doesn’t have the technology. Cellcard has invested significantly in its network to facilitate the rollout of 5G, but also in building a team of people with the correct mindset and ambition to drive the

conferencing technology linked to mobile phones and devices across

Kingdom’s digitalisation. On the technologies that will enable

Cambodia to assess patients in real-

this, Watson explains that “to have

time. This extends to the provision

a dynamic 5G network it has to be

of real-time clinical care, counselling

accessible. It must be fast and deliver

and therapy, as well as education

everything that we promise. But it’s

for consultants and support for

not just about speed, it’s about under-

medical teams.

standing and incorporating all of the

“It’s part of what we are trying to do

new opportunities that can be gained

as we move into a full 5G environment,”

from a 5G world, so things like network

Watson explains. “We’re looking at

splicing, enhanced mobile capabilities

using the technology for remote diag-

and the Internet of Things. Second to

nostics in all provinces, to support

that, is ensuring you have the neces-

medical staff and for other diagnosis

sary platforms to deliver all of the

and treatment services such as rec-

products and services. This includes a

ognising cataracts and more. It’s all

robust cloud computing platform and w w w. b u s in e s s c hie f. a s ia

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CELLCARD

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“ 5G will underpin the true digital transformation of the Kingdom and we’re plugged in and ready to deliver on that vision” — Ian Watson, CEO, Cellcard J U LY 2 0 2 0

watertight cybersecurity practices.” The latter, he explains, is crucial as networks and data grow. “In a true digital world, it won’t just be your handset that you should be concerned about, it’ll be every device in your home,” he states. “For organisations like us, it means the need to authenticate a large number of devices latching to the network, ensuring robust perimeter defences so that people can’t get into the network in the first instance and more. We invest huge


Looking ahead to a 5G-enabled Cambodia, Watson elaborates on the benefits that the technology will bring, not just to consumers but also the Kingdom’s enterprise economy. “The B2B market is, in my opinion, one of the biggest selling points of 5G,” he states. “We’re already setting up a dedicated 5G digital enterprise department to focus solely on the B2B and SME sectors and we are investing heavily in data centres so that enterprises can manage and have access to the vast amounts of data that they will need. “For Cambodia, the future is very exciting. It’s a young, dynamic county and it has huge potential that can amounts into our security protocols –

be realised by digitalisation. 5G will

we simply have to.”

underpin the true digital transforma-

For this, and other areas of technology,

tion of the Kingdom and we’re plugged

Watson states that partnerships prove

in and ready to deliver on that vision,”

important. A good technology partner,

he concludes.

he says, must fit Cellcard’s digital vision and be prepared to work towards the long-term ambitions of the company and the Kingdom. He cites a long-term partnership with Microsoft as a good example, through which Cellcard has access to the company’s video conferencing and other technologies. w w w. b u s in e s s c hie f. a s ia

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P0WERED BY

w w w.cellcard.com.kh


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