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Cambodia

Mobile Network Experience Report
February 2023

Opensignal is the independent global standard for analyzing consumers' connectivity experiences. Our industry reports are the definitive guide to understanding what happens when people use their mobile and broadband connections in their daily life.

Author: Sam Fenwick, Senior Analyst Data Collection Period: Oct 01 - Dec 29, 2022

Cambodia

Mobile Network Experience Report
February 2023

Opensignal is the independent global standard for analyzing consumers' connectivity experiences. Our industry reports are the definitive guide to understanding what happens when people use their mobile and broadband connections in their daily life.

Author: Sam Fenwick, Senior Analyst

Data Collection Period: Oct 01 - Dec 29, 2022

Key Findings

Cellcard users see the fastest average download speeds in Cambodia

Cellcard is the new outright winner of the Download Speed Experience award — ending Smart’s three-report-long winning streak. Cellcard wins with a score of 18.8Mbps and a lead of 3.1Mbps over Smart’s 15.7Mbps. Metfone remains in third place with its score of 11.1Mbps. Cellcard’s victory was made possible due to an impressive 5.8Mbps (44.1%) increase in the average overall speeds seen by our users on its network, which far exceeded the 1.5Mbps (10.7%) rise seen by Smart users.

Cellcard draws level with Smart on Video Experience and Games Experience

Smart has gone from winning these two awards outright in the last report to having to share the winners’ podium with Cellcard — the two operators are now joint winners for both awards. In the case of Games Experience, this is a partial comeback for Cellcard, given that it was the outright winner in the February 2022 report. Cellcard and Smart win Video Experience with statistically tied scores of 53.2-54.5 points on a 100-point scale compared with Metfone’s 48.2 points. For Games Experience, Cellcard and Smart share the award with tied scores of 45.9-47.4 points, closely followed by Metfone’s 44.9 points.

Cellcard and Smart retain their consistency awards

Our Cellcard users continue to see the most consistent experience in Cambodia when using their smartphones to perform demanding applications (Excellent Consistent Quality), while Smart users still see the most consistent experience for lower performance applications (Core Consistent Quality). This time around, Cellcard wins Excellent Consistent Quality with a score of 63.5% and a lead of 4.7 percentage points over second-placed Smart. For Core Consistent Quality, Smart comes top with a score of 82.2 points, just 1.1 percentage points ahead of Cellcard.

Metfone and Smart continue to dominate the coverage category

Both Metfone and Smart retain a coverage award from the last report — 4G Availability for Smart and 4G Coverage Experience for Metfone. However, the Availability award, which was won outright by Metfone in the previous report, is now shared three ways. Our Cambodian users do not see any statistically significant difference between operators in the proportion of time that they spend with a 3G or better connection (93.7-94.4%).

Smart users have the best experience when using over-the-top voice apps

Smart wins the Voice App Experience outright with a score of 74.7 points on a 100-point scale and a lead of 1.9 points over second-placed Metfone’s 72.8 points. This is the second report in a row in which Smart has achieved this feat, following on from its joint win alongside Metfone in the February 2022 report. Smart remains the only Cambodian operator in the Acceptable (74-80) category, as Cellcard and Metfone continue to place one category lower.

Mobile Experience Awards

February 2023, Cambodia Report
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Market Overview

Smart narrowly has the largest haul of awards this time around, winning three outright (Voice App Experience, 4G Availability and Core Consistent Quality) while sharing two other awards with Cellcard and being part of a three-way-tie for Upload Speed Experience and Availability. Cellcard is only one outright award behind as it is the sole winner of the Download Speed Experience and Excellent Consistent Quality awards. This is a significant change from the last report when Smart won six out of 10 awards outright.

Metfone has retained the 4G Coverage Experience award, but is no longer the outright winner of the Availability award, which is now shared between all three operators. With Games Experience, Metfone has narrowly missed out on joining its rivals on the winners’ podium as while its confidence intervals overlap with Cellcard’s they do not overlap with Smart’s.

Video Experience scores account for adaptive bitrate streaming (ABR), a technology that allows Opensignal to accurately represent users’ real video experience including video streams up to 4K quality.

In this report, we've analyzed our data gathered in the 90-day period starting on October 1, 2022, and ending on December 29, 2022, to see how Cambodia’s three national operators — Cellcard, Metfone and Smart — measure up.

Overall Experience
Coverage
Consistency
Video Experience
Games Experience
Voice App Experience
Download Speed Experience
Upload Speed Experience
Overall
4G
3G
Video Experience
in 0-100 points
Cellcard
53.2
Metfone
48.2
Smart
54.5
015304560
The brackets represent confidence intervals.
Read why confidence intervals are important.
Download Image
4G Video Experience
in 0-100 points
Cellcard
58.2
Metfone
49.8
Smart
56.2
015304560
The brackets represent confidence intervals.
Read why confidence intervals are important.
Download Image
3G Video Experience
in 0-100 points
Cellcard
41.9
Metfone
39.9
011.52334.546
The brackets represent confidence intervals.
Read why confidence intervals are important.
Download Image
Overall
4G
3G
Games Experience
in 0-100 points
Cellcard
45.9
Metfone
44.9
Smart
47.4
012.52537.550
The brackets represent confidence intervals.
Read why confidence intervals are important.
Download Image
4G Games Experience
in 0-100 points
Cellcard
49.8
Metfone
46.7
Smart
48.8
014284256
The brackets represent confidence intervals.
Read why confidence intervals are important.
Download Image
3G Games Experience
in 0-100 points
Cellcard
37.7
Metfone
35.3
010203040
The brackets represent confidence intervals.
Read why confidence intervals are important.
Download Image
Overall
4G
3G
Voice App Experience
in 0-100 points
Cellcard
71.6
Metfone
72.8
Smart
74.7
020406080
The brackets represent confidence intervals.
Read why confidence intervals are important.
Download Image
4G Voice App Experience
in 0-100 points
Cellcard
75.3
Metfone
74.3
Smart
76.2
020406080
The brackets represent confidence intervals.
Read why confidence intervals are important.
Download Image
3G Voice App Experience
in 0-100 points
Cellcard
68.0
Metfone
67.5
019385776
The brackets represent confidence intervals.
Read why confidence intervals are important.
Download Image
Overall
4G
3G
Download Speed Experience
in Mbps
Cellcard
18.8
Metfone
11.1
Smart
15.7
05101520
The brackets represent confidence intervals.
Read why confidence intervals are important.
Download Image
4G Download Speed
in Mbps
Cellcard
22.4
Metfone
12.2
Smart
16.7
06.51319.526
The brackets represent confidence intervals.
Read why confidence intervals are important.
Download Image
3G Download Speed
in Mbps
Cellcard
7.3
Metfone
5.5
02468
The brackets represent confidence intervals.
Read why confidence intervals are important.
Download Image
Overall
4G
3G
Upload Speed Experience
in Mbps
Cellcard
5.5
Metfone
5.5
Smart
5.5
01.534.56
The brackets represent confidence intervals.
Read why confidence intervals are important.
Download Image
4G Upload Speed
in Mbps
Cellcard
6.5
Metfone
6.1
Smart
5.8
02468
The brackets represent confidence intervals.
Read why confidence intervals are important.
Download Image
3G Upload Speed
in Mbps
Cellcard
2.5
Metfone
1.8
01234
The brackets represent confidence intervals.
Read why confidence intervals are important.
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Definitions

Opensignal’s Video Experience quantifies the quality of video streamed to mobile devices by measuring real-world video streams over an operator's networks. The metric is based on an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) approach, built upon detailed studies which have derived a relationship between technical parameters, including picture quality, video loading time and stall rate, with the perceived video experience as reported by real people. To calculate video experience, we are directly measuring video streams from end-user devices and using this ITU approach to quantify the overall video experience for each operator on a scale from 0 to 100. The videos tested include a mixture of resolutions — including Full HD (FHD) and 4K / Ultra HD (UHD) — and are streamed directly from the world’s largest video content providers.

In addition to Video Experience, we report on the following metrics related to video experience:

  • 5G Video Experience: The average Video Experience of Opensignal users when they were connected to an operator’s 5G network.
  • Video Experience – 5G Users: The average Video Experience of Opensignal users with a 5G device and a 5G subscription across an operator's networks. It factors in 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G video experience along with the availability of each technology.
  • 4G Video Experience: The average Video Experience of Opensignal users on an operator's 4G network.
  • 3G Video Experience: The average Video Experience of Opensignal users on an operator’s 3G network.

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Definitions

Opensignal’s Games Experience measures how mobile users experience real-time multiplayer mobile gaming on an operator’s network. Measured on a scale of 0-100, it analyzes how our users’ multiplayer mobile gaming experience is affected by mobile network conditions including latency, packet loss and jitter.

Games Experience quantifies the experience when playing real-time multiplayer mobile games on mobile devices connected to servers located around the world. The approach is built on several years of research quantifying the relationship between technical network parameters and the gaming experience as reported by real mobile users. These parameters include latency (round trip time), jitter (variability of latency) and packet loss (the proportion of data packets that never reach their destination). Additionally, it considers multiple genres of multiplayer mobile games to measure the average sensitivity to network conditions. The games tested include some of the most popular real-time multiplayer mobile games (such as Fortnite, Pro Evolution Soccer and Arena of Valor) played around the world.

Calculating Games Experience starts with measuring the end-to-end experience from users’ devices to internet end-points that host real games. The score is then measured on a scale from 0 to 100.

In addition to Games Experience, we report on the following metrics related to games experience:

  • 5G Games Experience: The average Games Experience of Opensignal users when they were connected to an operator’s 5G network.
  • Games Experience – 5G Users: The average Games Experience of Opensignal users with a 5G device and a 5G subscription across an operator's networks. It factors in 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G games experience along with the availability of each technology.
  • 4G Games Experience: The average Games Experience of Opensignal users on an operator's 4G network.
  • 3G Games Experience: The average Games Experience of Opensignal users on an operator's 3G (e.g. UMTS/HSPA or CDMA 1X EV-DO) network.

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Definitions

Opensignal's Voice App Experience measures the quality of experience for over-the-top (OTT) voice services — mobile voice apps such as WhatsApp, Skype and Facebook Messenger — using a model derived from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) approach for quantifying overall voice call quality and a series of calibrated technical parameters. This model characterizes the exact relationship between the technical measurements and perceived call quality. Voice App Experience for each operator is calculated on a scale from 0 to 100.

In addition to Voice App Experience, we report on the following metrics related to voice app experience:

  • 5G Voice App Experience: The average Voice App Experience of Opensignal users when they were connected to an operator’s 5G network.
  • Voice App Experience – 5G Users: The average Voice App Experience of Opensignal users with a 5G device and a 5G subscription across an operator's networks. It factors in 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G voice app experience along with the availability of each technology.
  • 4G Voice App Experience: The average Voice App Experience of Opensignal users on an operator's 4G network.
  • 3G Voice App Experience: The average Voice App Experience of Opensignal users on an operator's 3G (e.g. UMTS/HSPA or CDMA 1X EV-DO) network.

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Definitions

Measured in Mbps, Download Speed Experience represents the typical everyday speeds a user experiences across an operator’s mobile data networks.

In addition to Download Speed Experience, we report on the following metrics related to download speeds:

  • 5G Download Speed: The average download speed observed by Opensignal users with active 5G connections.
  • Download Speed Experience – 5G Users: The average download speeds experienced by Opensignal users with a 5G device and a 5G subscription across an operator’s networks. It factors in 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G download speeds along with the availability of each technology.
  • 4G Download Speed: The average downlink speed observed by Opensignal users when they were connected to 4G.
  • 3G Download Speed: The average downlink speed observed by Opensignal users when they were connected to 3G (e.g. UMTS/HSPA or CDMA 1X EV-DO).

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Definitions

Upload Speed Experience measures the average upload speeds for each operator observed by our users across their mobile data networks. Typically upload speeds are slower than download speeds, as current mobile broadband technologies focus resources on providing the best possible download speed for users consuming content on their devices. As mobile internet trends move away from downloading content to creating content and supporting real-time communications services, upload speeds are becoming more vital and new technologies are emerging that boost upstream capacity.

In addition to Upload Speed Experience, we report on five supporting metrics related to upload speeds:

  • 5G Upload Speed: The average upload speed observed by Opensignal users with active 5G connections.
  • Upload Speed Experience – 5G Users: The average upload speeds experienced by Opensignal users with a 5G device and a 5G subscription across an operator’s networks. It factors in 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G upload speeds along with the availability of each technology.
  • 4G Upload Speed: The average uplink speed observed by Opensignal users when they were connected to 4G.
  • 3G Upload Speed: The average uplink speed observed by Opensignal users when they were connected to 3G (e.g. UMTS/HSPA or CDMA 1X EV-DO).

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Cellcard

Metfone

Smart

Availability
4G Availability
4G Coverage Experience
Availability
% of time
Cellcard
94.2
Metfone
93.7
Smart
94.4
024487296
The brackets represent confidence intervals.
Read why confidence intervals are important.
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4G Availability
% of time
Cellcard
83.2
Metfone
90.4
Smart
94.8
0255075100
The brackets represent confidence intervals.
Read why confidence intervals are important.
Download Image
4G Coverage Experience
in 0-10 points
Cellcard
6.0
Metfone
7.5
Smart
7.3
02468
The brackets represent confidence intervals.
Read why confidence intervals are important.
Download Image

Definitions

Our availability metrics are not a measure of a network’s geographical extent. They won’t tell you whether you are likely to get a signal if you plan to visit a remote rural or nearly uninhabited region. Instead, they measure what proportion of time people have a network connection, in the places they most commonly frequent — something often missed by traditional coverage metrics. Looking at when users have a connection rather than where, provides us with a more precise reflection of the true user experience.

We also keep track of the instances that leave mobile users most frustrated: when there is no signal to connect to at all. The most common dead zones users struggle with occur indoors. As most of our availability data is collected indoors (as that’s where users spend most of their time), we’re particularly astute at detecting areas of zero signal.

Our availability metrics take a user-centric, time-based approach that complements the user-centric and geographical-based methodology used by our reach metrics.

Availability shows the proportion of time all Opensignal users on an operator’s network had either a 3G, 4G or 5G connection.

Map Definition

The coverage maps show the locations where we received measurements from users connecting with 3G or better mobile service. Each map provides an indication of the areas in which it is possible to obtain mobile service from that mobile operator.

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Definitions

Our availability metrics are not a measure of a network’s geographical extent. They won’t tell you whether you are likely to get a signal if you plan to visit a remote rural or nearly uninhabited region. Instead, they measure what proportion of time people have a network connection, in the places they most commonly frequent — something often missed by traditional coverage metrics. Looking at when users have a connection rather than where, provides us with a more precise reflection of the true user experience.

We also keep track of the instances that leave mobile users most frustrated: when there is no signal to connect to at all. The most common dead zones users struggle with occur indoors. As most of our availability data is collected indoors (as that’s where users spend most of their time), we’re particularly astute at detecting areas of zero signal.

Our availability metrics take a user-centric, time-based approach that complements the user-centric and geographical-based methodology used by our reach metrics.

4G Availability shows the proportion of time Opensignal users with a 4G device and a 4G subscription — but have never connected to 5G — had a 4G connection.

Map Definition

The coverage maps show the locations where we received measurements from users connecting with 3G or better mobile service. Each map provides an indication of the areas in which it is possible to obtain mobile service from that mobile operator.

Learn more

Definitions

4G Coverage Experience measures how mobile subscribers experience 4G coverage on an operator’s network. Measured on a scale of 0-10, it analyzes the locations where customers of a network operator received a 4G signal relative to the locations visited by users of all network operators.

In simple terms, 4G Coverage Experience measures the mobile coverage experience in all the locations that matter most to everyday users — i.e. all the places where they live, work and travel. It considers all the areas that Opensignal users visit, the portion of locations that 4G is available to them, and locations that more users visit have higher importance to them.

Map Definition

The coverage maps show the locations where we received measurements from users connecting with 3G or better mobile service. Each map provides an indication of the areas in which it is possible to obtain mobile service from that mobile operator.

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Excellent Consistent Quality
Core Consistent Quality
Excellent Consistent Quality
% of tests
Cellcard
63.5
Metfone
46.7
Smart
58.8
016.53349.566
The brackets represent confidence intervals.
Read why confidence intervals are important.
Download Image
Core Consistent Quality
% of tests
Cellcard
81.2
Metfone
68.1
Smart
82.2
021.54364.586
The brackets represent confidence intervals.
Read why confidence intervals are important.
Download Image

Definitions

Consistent Quality measures how often users’ experience on a network was sufficient to support common applications’ requirements. It measures download speed, upload speed, latency, jitter, packet loss, time to first byte and the percentage of tests attempted which did not succeed due to a connectivity issue on either the download or server response component.

Full details on how the Consistent Quality metrics — Excellent Consistent Quality and Core Consistent Quality — are calculated can be found here.

Excellent Consistent Quality is the percentage of users’ tests that met the minimum recommended performance thresholds to watch HD video, complete group video conference calls and play games.

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Definitions

Consistent Quality measures how often users’ experience on a network was sufficient to support common applications’ requirements. It measures download speed, upload speed, latency, jitter, packet loss, time to first byte and the percentage of tests attempted which did not succeed due to a connectivity issue on either the download or server response component.

Full details on how the Consistent Quality metrics — Excellent Consistent Quality and Core Consistent Quality — are calculated can be found here.

Core Consistent Quality is the percentage of users’ tests that met the minimum recommended performance thresholds for lower performance applications including SD video, voice calls and web browsing.

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Related Analysis

Our Methodology

Collecting billions of individual measurements daily from over 100 million devices globally, Opensignal independently analyzes mobile and broadband user experience on every major network operator around the globe.

About Opensignal

Opensignal is the leading global provider of independent insights into consumers' connectivity experiences and choice of carrier. Our proprietary insights into mobile and broadband networks give operators the solutions they need to profitably compete and win, from executive level scorecards and public validation to pin-point level engineering analytics and consumer decision dynamics.

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