Cambodia Wimax

Generally I ignore the press releases in my email, but this one got my attention -- Cambodia Data Communication Selects SOMA Networks to Provide First Nationwide Broadband Wireless Initiative. Here is the release online (courtesy of TMCNet)http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2006/jan/1280183.htm

PR Person also sent this note, (which I find to be the kind of useful thought provoking note that separates a good PR person from a poor one...):

Conventional wisdom says that China and India will lead the charge in
bridging the global digital divide. But savvy governments and carriers in
smaller countries aren't waiting for China and India to lead the way. />
While China moves slowly, smaller, more nimble countries like Malaysia,
Vietnam and the Cayman Islands are leading the way in deploying wireless
broadband services. Today, Cambodia joins the roster of surprising
leadership with the announcement that Cambodia Data Communication Company
will provide Cambodia's first nationwide broadband wireless infrastructure.
CDC will use technology from SOMA Networks, a rising San Francisco broadband
wireless provider.

The significance of this announcement extends beyond Cambodia itself and
raises broader global questions, including:

- How will vendors evolve to meet the rapidly changing rules of global
communications?

- What is the significance of Cambodia not waiting for China and India to
take the technology lead, as once thought they would?

- What is the overall impact of wireless broadband connectivity on the
emerging global economy?

Good questions. Maybe I'll even follow up and talk to a SOMA executive...