How reliable is the internet in Phnom Penh for remote work?
Typical speed
4.5–10 Mbps
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: lomatechnology.com, movetocambodia.com
In Phnom Penh, internet reliability is rated moderate, and typical internet speeds are around 4.5–10 Mbps.
- Reliability
- Moderate
Overall1.9/10Slower internet than about 80% of cities
Good to know
Good to Know
- Local SIM data is dramatically cheaper than e-SIM; if time permits before arrival, buy at airport booths in Phnom Penh or visit a carrier store in town.
- Fiber broadband speeds and prices fluctuate rapidly due to competition; ask locals or check latest provider websites before signing a contract.
- ADSL can bottleneck during peak evening hours in shared-bandwidth buildings; fiber is more stable for remote work.
- Mobile networks slow in congested areas during rush hours; maintain a mobile hotspot as backup for video calls or deadline work.
- Public WiFi widely available but unreliable; coworking spaces (Phnom Penh has several) offer fast, stable internet for day-use ($5–$15/day).
- SIM registration is mandatory; bring original passport and visa. Some airport vendors may skip full KYC—risk being deactivated; buy from official carriers for peace of mind.
- 5G is live (Jan 2026) but coverage limited to parts of central Phnom Penh; most users can rely on 4G/LTE.
- Cambodia officially accepts both KHR and USD; mobile providers often price in USD on backend despite KHR signage.
- Cross-network calls can be expensive; Cambodians often carry multiple SIMs to avoid surcharges.
Home Broadband
- Availability
- Widely available in urban Phnom Penh with fiber optic and cable options expanding
- Typical Speeds
- 10–500+ Mbps residential fiber; cable ADSL typically 4.5–10 Mbps range
- Reliability Note
- Generally acceptable in urban areas; fiber more reliable than ADSL. Network congestion during peak hours can affect ADSL speeds. Most nomads benefit from backup mobile data.
Providers
Opennet
- Type
- Fiber/ADSL
- Notes
- Good value for money; ADSL popular but slows during peak hours
Digi
- Type
- Fiber/Cable
- Notes
- Competitive pricing; known for lower customer service quality
Online (COGETEL)
- Type
- Fiber
- Notes
- More expensive and reliable; established ISP
Ezecom
- Type
- Fiber
- Notes
- Higher cost, considered more reliable than newer entrants
Smart Axiata
- Type
- Fiber/Mobile hotspot
- Notes
- Mobile + fixed broadband bundles; strong fiber rollout
e-SIM Options
- Activation
- Install via QR code before arrival; activates automatically upon landing and turning on data roaming
- Availability
- Available through travel e-SIM providers and select local carriers
- Recommendation
- Convenient for arrival; slightly more expensive than local SIM but eliminates airport booth hassle
Providers
Airalo
- Networks
- Smart Axiata and Metfone
- Price USD
- $4.00–$13.50 (1–20 GB)
- Notes
- Most popular travel eSIM provider globally
Holafly
- Price Range USD
- $1.55/day–$6.90 entry
- Description
- Unlimited data plans; Fair Usage Policy (fair throttle at 90GB/month)
Saily
- Price USD
- From $5.99
- Notes
- 1–10 GB plans; 7–30 day validity
Local Carriers (Smart, Metfone, Cellcard)
- Notes
- Also offer eSIM to local residents; passport registration required
Local SIM Cards
- Acquisition
- Buy at carrier offices (Smart, Metfone, Cellcard), airports, or convenience stores
- SIM Card Cost
- KHR 3,000
- Registration Requirement
- Passport with valid visa required; law-mandated KYC
Data Packages
Smart Axiata Traveller SIM
- Cost
- KHR 20,100
- Validity Days
- 15
- Description
- 30 GB data, 300 on-net minutes, 300 SMS, 30 intl/off-net minutes
Metfone Tourist
- Cost
- KHR 40,200
- Validity Days
- 30
- Description
- Up to 100 GB data, SMS and calls included
Cellcard Tourist SIM
- Cost
- KHR 24,150
- Validity Days
- 30
- Description
- 60–100 GB data packages
Monthly Plans Example
- Price Range USD
- $5–$10
- Notes
- Extremely affordable; cost per GB typically 0.10–0.17 USD
- Description
- Monthly local SIM plans range from 5–100 GB
Mobile Carriers
Smart Axiata
- Coverage
- Strong in urban Phnom Penh; fastest 4G/LTE speeds; 5G launching
- Speed Mbps
- Fastest among three major carriers
- Technology
- 4G/LTE and emerging 5G (since Jan 2026, primarily in Phnom Penh)
Metfone
- Coverage
- Largest network, 50%+ market share; best rural coverage
- Speed Mbps
- 10.3 Mbps average download; most consistent (80.8% exceed 5 Mbps threshold)
- Technology
- 4G/LTE on 1800 MHz; some 2G/3G
Cellcard
- Coverage
- Balanced urban & some rural; good city reliability
- Speed Mbps
- 33.74 Mbps median (fastest among three); 13.1 Mbps average
- Technology
- 4G/LTE; some 5G deployment
Connectivity Reliability Tier
moderate
Connectivity Reliability Tier Rationale
Phnom Penh offers widely available fiber and multiple mobile carriers with easy SIM/eSIM access, but ADSL congestion, mixed ISP reliability, and inconsistent public WiFi mean nomads should keep backup mobile data for redundancy.
Public Wi-Fi
- Reliability
- Often inconsistent in speed and stability, especially during peak hours
- Availability
- Free WiFi common in hotels, restaurants, cafes, coworking spaces, shopping malls
- Security Note
- Use a VPN for sensitive transactions; networks not always secure
Summary For Nomads
Urban Phnom Penh has good connectivity. Fiber broadband widely available ($26–$70+/month depending on provider and speed). Mobile data extremely affordable with local SIM (tourist packages $5–$10 for 30–100 GB per 15–30 days). Smart offers fastest speeds; Metfone most reliable consistency. 5G recently launched but limited to city center. Backup mobile hotspot recommended for broadband redundancy.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this connectivity & internet research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
- 1.lomatechnology.com
- 2.movetocambodia.com
- 3.monito.com
- 4.esim.holafly.com
- 5.saily.com
- 6.cybernews.com
- 7.yesim.app
- 8.esim.holafly.com
- 9.cambodiaesim.com
- 10.airalo.com
- 11.prepaid-data-sim-card.fandom.com
- 12.esim.net
- 13.phonetravelwiz.com
- 14.visittocambodia.com
- 15.mysiemreaptours.com
- 16.kampatour.com
- 17.gigago.com
- 18.indochinavoyages.com
- 19.wise.com
- 20.exchange-rates.org
- 21.ceicdata.com
- 22.tradingeconomics.com
- 23.tax.gov.kh
More About Phnom Penh
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.