Cambodia’s telecom agency firm on fees

Cambodia’s telecommunications ministry yesterday defended intervening in the market by fixing minimum prices for mobile phone calls, rationalising the base charges as necessary to stem the loss of tax revenue and avert a monopolised industry.

The floor price was introduced in 2009 to prevent the demise of telecommunications operators in what was and still is considered an oversaturated market. It sets a minimum charge of 4.5 cents per minute for calls made within a network, and 5.95 cents for calls made between different networks. …

In 2008, there were 3.8 million subscribers. That rose to 19 million in 2012. Yet industry revenues of $80 million in 2012 and government revenues of $20 million the same year were both less than expected, officials said yesterday. …

Chan Muy Hong and Daniel de Carteret
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/cambodia%E2%80%99s-telecom-agency-firm-fees