Cambodia’s digital future is being shaped by competing global influences and regional integration efforts, presenting both opportunities and risks for its citizens.

China remains Cambodia’s largest source of imports, valued at 19 billion USD or 53 percent of total imports, and accounts for 54 percent of foreign direct investment, amounting to 10 billion USD as of 2025. Chinese companies such as Huawei and ZTE have built and continue to maintain Cambodia’s 4G and 5G networks. Nationwide 5G services were officially launched on 1 January 2026 following the expansion of 4G coverage to nearly 95 percent of internet users.

At the same time, Cambodia relies heavily on the United States for market access. The US is the country’s largest export destination, purchasing 11.5 billion USD worth of goods, or 43 percent of total exports, while the European Union accounts for another 15 percent. This reliance has led Cambodia to sign the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) with the US, aimed at easing tariff concerns and addressing tensions linked to its border conflict with Thailand.

Regionally, Cambodia is part of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), which seeks to harmonize rules on data flows, cybersecurity, and digital trade. DEFA is projected to generate up to 2 trillion USD for ASEAN by 2030. However, Cambodia faces a dilemma: it depends on Chinese-built infrastructure while being pressured to adopt US-driven digital trade rules, and it is not yet fully prepared to benefit from regional integration.

Barriers remain significant. Digital literacy is estimated at 32 percent, nearly 40 percent of the population remains offline, and rural internet access is slow. Data protection and security systems are weak, while online harms such as misinformation, AI-generated content, scams, hate speech, digital nationalism, and gender-based violence are increasing.

For Oxfam in Cambodia, these dynamics matter because they directly affect civic space and citizens’ ability to participate in shaping the country’s digital future. Weak digital literacy and rising online harms limit inclusive participation, while dependence on external powers risks undermining national resilience. Strengthening civic engagement and ensuring that citizens are informed about both the opportunities of ASEAN’s digital integration and the risks of over-reliance on external actors are critical steps toward a more balanced and inclusive digital path.

This article was written by Ritthy Ou after joining as a panelist in the ASEAN in the Middle: Trade, Tech, and What It Means for People" during the fourth Digital Rights in Asia Pacific Assembly 2026 in Manila, the Philippines, in June, a regional gathering of more than 500 digital rights stakeholders.