Cambodia

The objective of the Improved Access to Communications in Rural Cambodia Project is to bring basic voice telephony services to low income families in rural areas of... Show More + northern and northwestern Cambodia. A secondary objective is to demonstrate a private-public partnership through the output-based aid (OBA) subsidy approach. There are four components to the project, the first being basic voice telephony service. While the project is technology neutral, for the purposes of project costing and subsidy calculations, it will be assumed that the service provider will choose to provide a basic voice telephony service using mobile technology. This is the predominant telecommunications infrastructure available in Cambodia and the mobile segment has significantly higher penetration rates than fixed lines and internet. The use of mobile technology will maximize the benefits obtained through the subsidy due to existing economies of scale. The second component is the basic access to services. The service provider must ensure that there are public access points which are accessible to residents in the target locations. Access points should be provided to 80 percent of the villages in the target locations. The third component is the additional services to be offered by service provider. The service provider must also offer additional services such as basic data and Internet access in their bid proposals. The additional services that a service provider offers may depend on the technology chosen for the provision of basic telephony services. Finally, the fourth component is the project management and supervision support. Show Less -

The main development objectives of the Rural Electrification and Transmission Project are to improve power sector efficiency and reliability, while reducing electricity... Show More + supply costs, improve standards of living and foster economic growth in rural areas, by expanding rural electricity supplies, and, strengthen electricity institutions, the regulatory framework, and the "enabling environment" for sector commercialization and privatization. The transmission line component comprises the construction of a double circuit 220kV line from the border with Vietnam to Phnom Penh, and two associated substations; reinforcement of the grid around Phnom Penh, which involves lines and modifications to three substations and 22kV extension; establishment of a National Control Center to optimize load dispatch operations, and increase system security; and, building the Electricite du Cambodge (EdC) capacity in project management, land acquisition, resettlement and environmental monitoring and mitigation. The rural electrification component, supports EdC's grid extension program, covering medium, and low voltage lines and electrification for rural households. The Project will support the symbiotic relationship of EdC and the rural electricity enterprises (REEs), and whenever feasible, will make use of private sector providers in the operation of rural distribution systems. EdC would identify existing REEs, and options for public-private partnership, including distribution licensing, billing and collection arrangements, management contracts, and leasing arrangements. The pilot Rural Electrification Fund (REF) component, aims at implementing an innovative mini, and off-grid electrification program, as a transparent institutional mechanism for promoting rural electrification, established by the Government with administrative, managerial, technical and financial autonomy to channel sub-grants and technical assistance (TA) to the private sector, and rural communities. The REF will assist private sector developers in providing new connections, electricity to households using solar home systems, and add as well mini-hydro, and micro hydro capacity. Show Less -