Which network to choose, what a tourist SIM actually gets you, and how to be online before you have left the airport.
4Networks compared24 hrReply time
In short
Cambodia has four mobile networks: Metfone, Smart, Cellcard and yes 018. Metfone has the widest rural coverage, Smart is the strongest in cities, and all three main networks sell tourist SIMs at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap airports. You need your passport to register a SIM.
Metfone is Cambodia's largest mobile network, run by the Vietnamese operator Viettel, and it has the widest rural coverage of any provider. If your trip goes beyond Phnom Penh and Siem Reap - into the northeast, the Cardamoms or the smaller islands - Metfone is the safest single choice.
Operator
Viettel Cambodia
Market position
Largest network, roughly half of all Cambodian mobile subscribers
Coverage
The broadest national footprint, including rural provinces where other networks thin out
Network
4G nationwide; 5G in Phnom Penh and selected zones of 14 provinces since January 2026
Smart, owned by the Malaysian group Axiata, is Cambodia's second-largest network and generally the strongest performer in cities and larger towns. It was the first operator in the country to launch 4G, sells traveller SIMs at airport booths, and is the usual recommendation for a trip centred on Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.
Operator
Smart Axiata, part of Axiata Group (Malaysia)
Market position
Second largest
Coverage
Strongest in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, Battambang and other larger towns
Network
First Cambodian operator to launch 4G, in 2014; 5G since January 2026
Cellcard is Cambodia's home-grown network, operated by CamGSM, and the third largest of the four. It has a presence in every province with its strongest coverage in the cities, sells a straightforward tourist package at airport counters, and supports eSIM.
Operator
CamGSM, a Cambodian company
Market position
Third largest
Coverage
Present in all provinces; solid in cities, thinner in remote countryside
yes 018, previously Seatel, is Cambodia's fourth mobile network. It runs a 4G-only network with no 2G or 3G fallback, sells simple unlimited-data passes measured in days, and has a noticeably smaller coverage footprint than the three main operators.
Operator
yes 018, formerly Seatel
Market position
Fourth, and much smaller than the other three
Coverage
Limited compared with Metfone, Smart and Cellcard - check before relying on it outside the cities
Is Metfone the best network in Cambodia for travellers?
It is the best choice if your itinerary leaves the main tourist corridor, because it has the widest rural coverage. For a trip that stays in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, Smart is generally faster.
Does Metfone work at Angkor?
Yes. All the main networks cover Siem Reap and the Angkor Archaeological Park, though signal can drop inside the larger temple enclosures.
Can I get a Metfone eSIM before I arrive?
Yes, Metfone supports eSIM, which means you can be connected the moment you land instead of queuing at a counter.
Is Smart or Metfone better for tourists in Cambodia?
Smart for a city-based trip, Metfone if you are travelling into rural provinces. Both cover the Phnom Penh to Siem Reap route comfortably.
Can I work remotely on a Smart SIM?
Yes - Smart is the network most digital nomads in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap use, and tethering a laptop is straightforward.
Where do I buy a Smart traveller SIM?
The arrival halls at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap airports have staffed Smart booths, and there are shops throughout both cities.
Is Cellcard a Cambodian company?
Yes. Cellcard is operated by CamGSM and is the only one of the three major networks that is Cambodian-owned rather than foreign-owned.
Is Cellcard good enough for a week in Siem Reap?
Comfortably. Its urban coverage is good, and a short tourist pack covers a week of maps, messaging and social media without any top-up admin.
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