In the modern era, the new technologies are growing much faster than the older information and communication technology (ICT) in developed and developing countries such as internet, mobile phone, computer use and so on. The young people are the main user of the new ICTs, especially the internet and more advanced features of mobile phones. And the youth are the first adopters of new ICT.
According to an Australian telecommunications research group, there is more than 1.5 million of Cambodia’s mobile phone usage in 2006, and it is expected to be continuing growing substantially in 2007. The report added that Cambodia needs to put administrative institution and regulation in place to improve the telecommunication market, and the telecom sector remains in need of serious regulatory reform.
Internet service in Cambodia is still expensive in comparison with neighboring countries. This is one of obstacles to young people to access ICT, not like other countries. Access to internet is hard for people in remote and rural areas, except in capital and big provinces.Although the main reason for many youth to use computers, the internet and mobile phones is entertainment- playing games, downloading music and talking with friends- the new ICT technologies are having wide-ranging effects on youth transitions. New opportunities for work and study are opening up, and the interactive and decentralized nature of these new technologies is providing youth with many more opportunities to obtain information outside the traditional channels, enhancing their agency, According to World Bank Group’s report.
Nisha Agrawal, World Bank Country Manager, said that young population in Cambodia is almost 70% of the population under age of 30 years and it is also surprisingly that much more is not being done to tap the huge potential and resources of young Cambodians for the development of Cambodia and not yet much is known about their aspiration and dreams of the future.
Presently, young Cambodian youths are facing an uncertain future, they experience despair and hopeless because of a lack of opportunities to find jobs. Thousands of graduated students are leaving from University every year but they are not guaranteed employment.
Chiv You Meng, president of the Khmer Youth Association, said that young Cambodians face challenges such as lack of education, health problems, unemployment, lack of participation in social activities and decreasing morality.
I hope the internet price is cheaper than now. I have lots of thing to do that home…
I suppose the young people access internet for learning and researching more than playing game or soccer betting.
Just hope that internet access will be for everyone, cheap as neighbouring country and that our youth will spend time on it for essential resources and not so much of games, entertainment, sport-betting.