Associated Press
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- Cambodia's leading mobile phone company has launched the use of third-generation, or 3G, services after agreeing to drop a video phone feature that the government feared would be used to spread pornographic images, officials said Tuesday.
So Khun, the Minister of Telecommunications, said the government has allowed MobiTel, a company partly owned by Cambodian businessman Kith Meng, to introduce a 3G network "but minus video phone."
In May, Prime Minister Hun Sen, heeding a request from his wife Bun Rany, ordered the ban of video phone service planned by MobiTel for fear that it could disseminate pornography among users.
Bun Rany and the wives of several other senior government officials had written to him to complain about 3G phone services, arguing that they could be used to spread obscene images and increase the sexual exploitation of women and children.
David Spriggs, the general manager of MobiTel, said his company began introducing 3G mobile services Friday, making it the first in Cambodia. The company currently has more than one million mobile phone users.
"If and when the government changes its position, we will be able offer video phone," he said.
The current service package has two main features: high-speed Internet access and television broadcast from three local stations. Spriggs said it is available at a flat fee of US$40 (€32) a month for unlimited access to Internet and television broadcast, but users still have to pay US$0.08 (€.06) cents a minute for calls.
Spriggs said he didn't see the effectiveness of the government's ban on a video phone service since the new service allowed unlimited Internet access, where pornography Web sites were easily accessible.
"At the moment what they've banned is video phone, and as far as we're aware, they haven't banned the Internet," Spriggs said.
So Khun said technicians at his ministry are now working to find ways to deal with the issue but acknowledged that "it may never be completely sealed off."
So Khun, the Minister of Telecommunications, said the government has allowed MobiTel, a company partly owned by Cambodian businessman Kith Meng, to introduce a 3G network "but minus video phone."
In May, Prime Minister Hun Sen, heeding a request from his wife Bun Rany, ordered the ban of video phone service planned by MobiTel for fear that it could disseminate pornography among users.
Bun Rany and the wives of several other senior government officials had written to him to complain about 3G phone services, arguing that they could be used to spread obscene images and increase the sexual exploitation of women and children.
David Spriggs, the general manager of MobiTel, said his company began introducing 3G mobile services Friday, making it the first in Cambodia. The company currently has more than one million mobile phone users.
"If and when the government changes its position, we will be able offer video phone," he said.
The current service package has two main features: high-speed Internet access and television broadcast from three local stations. Spriggs said it is available at a flat fee of US$40 (€32) a month for unlimited access to Internet and television broadcast, but users still have to pay US$0.08 (€.06) cents a minute for calls.
Spriggs said he didn't see the effectiveness of the government's ban on a video phone service since the new service allowed unlimited Internet access, where pornography Web sites were easily accessible.
"At the moment what they've banned is video phone, and as far as we're aware, they haven't banned the Internet," Spriggs said.
So Khun said technicians at his ministry are now working to find ways to deal with the issue but acknowledged that "it may never be completely sealed off."
2 comments:
They are just afraid some poeople exchange their dirty video through 3g network.
They are just afraid that some poeple may video their (HUN SEN0 crime in action and show the world, like killing in Battabang prison or im 1997 coup!
You low life son of bitch, Ah Hun Sen, Yean Yap, Heng Sarim all the Vietname momis dogs!
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