1. The Internet in South East Asia Organized by the Telecommunication Development Bureau of the ITU and hosted by the Post and Telegraph Department of Thailand. The workshop is to be held in Bangkok, Thailand from 21 to 23 November 2001.

2. By Houth Ratanak Open Forum of Cambodia Ratanak@forum.org.kh www.forum.org.kh Role of NGO in Internet Development

3. Background The advent of Internet connection in Cambodia in 1994. The beginning of the Open Forum Information Exchange. Open Forum of Cambodia, the first E- mail provider in Cambodia, started since 1994

4. What is Open Forum of Cambodia? What is Open Forum of Cambodias goal? Current Status and Problems The telecommunication system is still poor and expensive. Cambodia has one of the lowest levels of access to Information Technology in the South East Asian region.

5. Computer and IT is barely affordable in the main urban areas. Cambodia does not yet have enough IT manpower. There is no independent software development. There is not yet a unified standard for the different Khmer fonts in use. All schools in Cambodia could not access into Internet

6. Role in Internet Development To develop I instead of T To promote the use of Khmer Fonts. To promote the use of Mailing List Human resources training in IT. To promote the use of Newsgroup

7. Prepare to help building up the ShcoolNet in Cambodia by providing the technical advisor. To develop the Teuk Trey for Windows (Font Converter) Lowering the price of Internet connection.

8. Our commitment Finally, we will try our best to implement the above descriptions very actively as the local organization in order to develop and expand the Internet use for all level of Cambodian people. But, without the financial support, we could not fulfill our task. Thank you!!