TRC Opens Consultation on Use of the 6 GHz Band for Wi-Fi and Licensed Mobile Access

The consultation invites views on how the 6 GHz band should be authorised in Cambodia, distinguishing the lower portion, which is being considered for licence-exempt Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 deployment, from the upper portion, which is being considered for licensed mobile broadband use.

Respondents are asked to comment on channelisation options, power limits, indoor-only versus outdoor use, automated frequency coordination arrangements and coexistence with existing fixed and satellite services in the band.

The 6 GHz band is one of the most significant spectrum resources currently available for the growth of both enterprise Wi-Fi and mobile broadband. Its width supports very wide channels, which are the basis for the multi-gigabit performance promised by modern Wi-Fi and 5G-Advanced deployments.

The way the band is divided between licence-exempt and licensed uses will shape the trajectory of enterprise connectivity, mobile broadband capacity and specialised applications for the next decade.

The band is used today by fixed links and by earth stations for satellite services. Any new authorisation regime must address the protection of these incumbent uses, either through frequency separation, geographic exclusion or automated coordination mechanisms.

The consultation raises whether an automated frequency coordination system, similar to those adopted in other jurisdictions, would be proportionate for Cambodia given the density and location of incumbent use.

Mobile operators may see the upper 6 GHz band as an option for capacity augmentation, particularly in dense urban zones. The technical parameters and licensing model that emerges from the consultation will determine whether the band becomes economically attractive.

Enterprise venues, campus operators and hospitality groups may plan Wi-Fi upgrades on the assumption that the lower portion becomes available for indoor use. Procurement timing should track the consultation's progress.

Effective responses combine specific technical evidence with a clear description of the respondent's business interest. Generic advocacy for one outcome or another tends to carry less weight than substantiated analysis.

Respondents should identify their current holdings and coordination arrangements in the band, describe their intended future use and quantify the impact of the options presented in the consultation on their business.

The 6 GHz spectrum consultation sits within Cambodia's broader telecommunications legal framework, principally the Law on Telecommunications (2015), the sub-decrees on licensing and spectrum management, and successive Prakas issued by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications and the Telecommunication Regulator of Cambodia.

Where a specific instrument has not yet been formally adopted, operators should read announcements together with existing licence conditions, general regulatory duties and international commitments Cambodia has undertaken through the ITU and ASEAN.

Because ministerial and regulatory instruments in Cambodia are frequently updated, compliance teams should not rely on a single Prakas in isolation but should trace the underlying legal basis and any amending texts before assuming a rule applies.

Cambodia-licensed mobile network operators, fixed operators, internet service providers, tower and passive-infrastructure providers, satellite and VSAT operators, equipment importers and vendors, enterprise connectivity buyers and investors evaluating market entry should all monitor the 6 GHz band.

Foreign companies providing cross-border digital services to Cambodian customers should also assess whether their commercial model creates a nexus that brings them within scope, even if they do not hold a Cambodian licence.

Group companies with a Cambodian subsidiary should ensure that head-office compliance policies are localised and do not simply mirror requirements from another jurisdiction, as Cambodian requirements often differ in detail even where the overall policy objective is similar.

Operators should map current internal practices against the direction of the 6 GHz spectrum consultation and identify areas where documentation, disclosures, contracts, technical measures or governance need to be strengthened.

A written internal impact assessment — capturing which business lines are affected, which teams own each obligation, and what evidence would be produced in a regulator inspection — is a low-cost step that materially improves readiness.

Where obligations are not yet in force, boards and executive committees should be briefed on likely direction of travel so that budget cycles, procurement decisions and vendor contracts already reflect anticipated requirements rather than being retrofitted later at higher cost.

The 6 GHz spectrum consultation does not operate in isolation. Companies should consider how it intersects with data protection expectations, cybersecurity obligations, consumer-protection rules, tax and foreign-exchange controls, and — where relevant — sectoral rules for banking, e-commerce or critical infrastructure.

Contracts with vendors, roaming partners, tower companies, cloud providers and interconnection counterparties should be reviewed to allocate responsibility and cost for any additional obligations that arise.

For groups operating in multiple ASEAN jurisdictions, alignment with regional peers can reduce friction, but Cambodia-specific carve-outs are usually required rather than a purely regional template.

The regulatory calendar in Cambodia often compresses between announcement and effective date. Operators that wait for a formally adopted text before starting work frequently find themselves with only weeks to implement changes that require quarters of preparation.

Legal and compliance teams should establish a monitoring routine covering MPTC and TRC official channels, the Royal Gazette, and industry association updates, and should record the date each new document is reviewed together with a short internal note on its impact.

Where uncertainty remains, engaging early with the regulator through industry associations or bilateral technical meetings is usually more effective than waiting for enforcement action to clarify the intended interpretation.

Lex Civora advises Cambodia-licensed operators, foreign investors and vendors on the practical implications of the 6 GHz band, including gap analyses against existing licence conditions, drafting of internal policies and customer-facing documentation, and structured engagement with MPTC and TRC.

For matters that touch adjacent regimes — data protection, cybersecurity, consumer protection, tax and foreign investment — we coordinate with specialist counsel so that the client receives a single integrated compliance view rather than fragmented advice.

Where a matter is time-sensitive, we can deliver a focused risk brief within a short timeframe to inform board or investment-committee decisions while the full compliance workstream is being scoped.