How to Get Internet in Cambodia (2026): SIM Card, eSIM and WiFi Options

How to Get Internet in Cambodia (2026): SIM Card, eSIM and WiFi Options

For most short trips to Cambodia, a travel eSIM is the simplest way to have mobile data ready for maps, ride-hailing and hotel communication without visiting a phone shop. The main exception is travelers who need a Cambodian phone number or want the lowest local price: Cambodia’s tourist SIMs are inexpensive and can include calls and SMS.

Lena Hartley

Jul 26, 2026

How to Get Internet in Cambodia (2026): SIM Card, eSIM and WiFi Options

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In this article

Internet options in Cambodia at a glance
Airport SIM cards
Local prepaid and tourist SIM cards
Using a Roafly eSIM
International roaming
Mobile networks and coverage
Pocket WiFi
Airport and public WiFi
Best option by traveler type
FAQs
Final recommendation

Internet options in Cambodia at a glance

Prices and product details below were checked on July 26, 2026. Cambodian operators commonly advertise prepaid plans in US dollars, although Cambodian riel is the national currency.

Operator	Tourist-Ready Plan	Data	Validity	Price	Calls and SMS
Smart	Traveller SIM	30 GB	15 days	US$5	300 on-network minutes, 30 off-network/international minutes and 300 on-network SMS
Cellcard	Traveller SIM	3 GB	3 days	US$5	30 on-network minutes and 30 on-network SMS
Cellcard	Traveller SIM	7 GB	7 days	US$7	70 on-network minutes and 70 on-network SMS
Cellcard	Traveller SIM	Longer-validity options available	Varies	Varies	Check the current package at purchase
Metfone	Prepaid and tourist service available	Varies	Varies	Current tourist starter price not clearly published	Depends on the selected bundle

Local SIM can be the cheapest choice, particularly for travelers staying several weeks. Roafly is more convenient when you would rather install mobile data before departure, keep your main SIM in place and avoid relying on airport stock.

Travelers who want mobile data without visiting a Cambodian SIM counter can view the current Cambodia eSIM options below.

Need data in Cambodia? Get an eSIM!

Choose the perfect data plan for your trip

Airport SIM cards

Cambodia’s two most relevant international arrival points are Techo International Airport near Phnom Penh and Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport. Sihanouk International Airport handles a smaller number of international services.

Traveler buying a tourist SIM card at an airport arrivals telecom booth in Cambodia.

Techo International Airport (KTI)

Techo International Airport became Phnom Penh’s primary passenger airport in September 2025. It is approximately 20 kilometres south of central Phnom Penh, so having internet access is useful for arranging transport, checking accommodation details and following the route into the city.

Smart officially advertises its Traveller SIM as available from Smart booths at Cambodia’s international airports. The verified package available on July 26, 2026 included:

30 GB of data
15 days’ validity
300 Smart-to-Smart minutes
30 off-network or international minutes
300 on-network SMS
US$5 plan fee

The product includes a Cambodian number. Registration should be completed by the authorized seller, so bring the physical passport used to enter Cambodia.

Smart does not clearly publish the Techo booth’s precise arrivals location, operating hours, accepted card types or late-night availability. Travelers arriving after midnight should therefore avoid assuming the counter will be open. Airport WiFi can provide temporary access while arranging transport or reaching your accommodation.

The airport is new, and some online guides still describe SIM counters at the former Phnom Penh International Airport. Do not use those old-terminal details when planning an arrival at KTI. For a dedicated airport buying guide, see Techo Airport (KTI) SIM Cards: Prices & eSIM.

Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport (SAI)

Smart’s statement that its Traveller SIM is sold at any international airport in Cambodia indicates that the same tourist product should be available through a Smart airport booth at Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport.

However, a reliable current source was not found for the booth’s exact position, opening hours, payment restrictions or whether other operators maintain permanent counters there. Ask for the complete package price before registration rather than buying an unlabelled SIM and adding a separate data bundle without understanding the total cost.

Internet access is especially helpful at SAI because the airport is around 40 kilometres from Siem Reap. You may need data to contact your hotel, confirm a transfer or compare transport arrangements.

Sihanouk International Airport (KOS)

Sihanoukville’s airport serves Cambodia’s southern coast, but current airport-specific SIM inventory and tourist-plan prices are not reliably published. Do not depend on finding a particular operator or package immediately after landing.

The terminal does provide free WiFi, making it possible to contact your accommodation before purchasing a SIM in Sihanoukville.

Is an airport SIM worth buying?

The verified US$5 Smart package is reasonably priced by international-airport standards and provides considerably more than basic navigation data. It is a practical option when the booth is open and you want a Cambodian number.

Buying at the airport is less suitable when:

Your flight arrives very late.
You do not want to hand over your passport for local SIM registration.
Your phone uses its physical SIM slot for your home number.
You need internet immediately after landing, before reaching the booth.
You want to compare several operators rather than accept the available airport package.

Local prepaid and tourist SIM cards

Cambodia’s principal mobile operators include Smart, Cellcard and Metfone. Tourist-accessible prepaid service is inexpensive, but the cheapest domestic bundles may be add-ons that require an active operator SIM rather than complete starter packages.

Buy from an official operator store, an authorized airport booth or a clearly identified service point. Cambodia has strengthened enforcement against improperly registered SIMs, so avoid sellers offering an already activated card under somebody else’s identity.

Operator	Tourist-Ready Plan	Data	Validity	Price	Calls and SMS
Smart	Traveller SIM	30 GB	15 days	US$5	300 on-network minutes, 30 off-network/international minutes and 300 on-network SMS
Cellcard	Traveller SIM	3 GB	3 days	US$5	30 on-network minutes and 30 on-network SMS
Cellcard	Traveller SIM	7 GB	7 days	US$7	70 on-network minutes and 70 on-network SMS
Cellcard	Traveller SIM	Longer-validity options available	Varies	Varies	Check the current package at purchase
Metfone	Prepaid and tourist service available	Varies	Varies	Current tourist starter price not clearly published	Depends on the selected bundle

Traveler comparing local prepaid and tourist SIM cards inside a Cambodian telecom store.

Smart

Smart has the clearest verified airport-oriented product. Its US$5 Traveller SIM covers many normal 10- to 15-day itineraries without requiring an immediate recharge.

The included local number can be helpful for calling hotels, drivers or Cambodian businesses. The package also provides some off-network and international calling, although travelers should confirm which destinations and call types qualify.

Smart sells SIMs and plans through its airport booths and retail network. Passport registration is part of obtaining a legitimate tourist SIM. Ask the staff member to activate the package and confirm that mobile data works before leaving.

Smart also advertises inexpensive domestic prepaid data plans, including weekly products. These can offer excellent value, but some are package subscriptions rather than complete tourist SIM prices. Confirm the cost of the SIM, selected plan and any required top-up as separate items.

Cellcard

Cellcard publishes dedicated Traveller SIM packages rather than requiring visitors to decode its regular prepaid catalogue.

The verified options include 3 GB for three days at US$5 and 7 GB for seven days at US$7, with matching quantities of on-network minutes and SMS. These plans are easy to understand, although Smart’s 15-day package currently provides substantially more data for the advertised price.

Cellcard SIMs can be obtained from Cellcard stores and service points. Registration should be completed in your name using your passport. Availability at a specific airport booth should be confirmed on arrival because Cellcard’s general Traveller SIM page does not establish permanent stock at every Cambodian airport.

Cellcard also offers much larger domestic prepaid allowances. Those plans can make sense for longer stays, but compare the entire starter cost and activation conditions rather than treating the advertised bundle fee as the guaranteed walk-in tourist price.

Metfone

Metfone has an extensive retail presence and publishes multiple prepaid bundles, including low-cost weekly and monthly options. Its website also promotes tourist SIM availability through airports, convenience stores and telecom shops.

A sufficiently clear, current Metfone tourist starter package—with the SIM, initial allowance, validity and total tourist purchase price combined—was not available for verification on the checked date. For that reason, it is better to ask at an official Metfone showroom than to rely on an old online price.

Metfone can be worth considering for travelers visiting several provinces or spending significant time outside the main tourist centres. Coverage still varies by exact destination, road and terrain, so no operator should be treated as universally available.

Registration and activation

Expect to show your original passport when buying a Cambodian SIM. The seller may record passport details or capture an identity image as part of registration.

Before leaving the shop:

Confirm that the SIM is registered under your identity.
Ask whether the package renews automatically.
Check its expiry date and remaining balance.
Test mobile data with the shop’s WiFi switched off.
Keep the SIM packaging or receipt in case support needs the number.

A physical Cambodian SIM may replace your home SIM unless your phone supports two physical SIMs or a physical-SIM-and-eSIM combination. Store the removed SIM securely.

Using a Roafly eSIM

A Roafly eSIM is designed for travelers who need mobile data but do not require a Cambodian phone number. It can be purchased and installed before departure, eliminating the need to locate an airport counter or complete Cambodia’s local tourist-SIM registration process.

Cambodia plans are data-only. They do not include conventional calls, SMS or a Cambodian number. Messaging and calling remain possible through data-based apps.

Roafly’s current Cambodia listing identifies Metfone and Cellcard as supported local networks. Network access remains subject to local coverage, congestion, compatible frequencies and the particular plan, so a signal cannot be guaranteed in every rural area or building.

Other practical benefits include:

Keeping your primary SIM installed for calls and authentication messages.
Avoiding a physical SIM swap.
Using hotspot or tethering across the purchased data allowance, with no separate hotspot quota.
Installing the profile while you still have reliable home WiFi.
Avoiding dependence on airport booth hours and stock.
No identity verification for the current Roafly Cambodia product.

Make sure the phone is unlocked and eSIM-compatible before purchasing. Install the plan according to the supplied instructions, but leave your home SIM’s data roaming disabled unless you intentionally want to use your carrier’s roaming service.

Roafly may cost more than a heavily subsidized local bundle. That extra cost pays primarily for remote setup and reduced arrival friction, not for a local number or voice allowance. Travelers comparing digital options in more detail can read Best eSIM for Cambodia.

A Roafly Asia regional eSIM may be more practical when Cambodia is one stop in a wider itinerary. The regional product currently includes Cambodia and can reduce the need to install a separate plan after crossing into another supported destination.

International roaming

Your home carrier may already provide roaming in Cambodia. This is the simplest method because your normal number and SIM remain active, but convenience does not necessarily mean good value.

Cambodia is outside the European Union and European Economic Area. EU/EEA Roam Like at Home rules do not apply, so a European SIM that works domestically without surcharges can still incur international roaming fees in Cambodia.

Before departure, check:

Whether Cambodia is included in your plan.
The daily-pass or data-bundle price.
How much high-speed data is included.
What happens after the allowance is consumed.
Whether receiving calls or listening to voicemail costs extra.
Whether the pass activates automatically after a small amount of usage.

Travelers from the United States, Canada, Australia and other markets may be offered an international day pass. These can be reasonable for a brief stop, especially when work requires the home number, but several daily charges can quickly exceed the cost of a local SIM or travel eSIM.

To prevent accidental charges, disable data roaming on your home line and select the travel eSIM or Cambodian SIM as the phone’s mobile-data line. Keeping the home line enabled for incoming authentication texts may still trigger charges with some carriers, so read the carrier’s rules rather than assuming incoming activity is free.

Mobile networks and coverage

Cambodia generally has useful mobile coverage in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville and other populated areas. Conditions become less predictable on rural roads, islands and in sparsely populated provinces.

Mobile networks and coverage in Cambodia

Smart

Smart is a major Cambodian network with extensive service in urban and tourist areas. It is a straightforward choice for travelers whose itinerary concentrates on Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and established transport corridors.

Its Traveller SIM is particularly practical for a conventional Cambodia itinerary because the official package is clearly defined and sold through international-airport booths.

Cellcard

Cellcard provides broad mobile service and dedicated short-stay tourist packages. It may suit travelers who want a clearly structured three- or seven-day plan with a Cambodian number.

Roafly’s Cambodia product lists Cellcard as one of its supported networks, although access depends on the plan and local network conditions.

Metfone

Metfone is relevant for travelers moving beyond the main cities and is often considered when provincial reach matters. Roafly also lists Metfone for its Cambodia product.

Even with a wide network footprint, coverage can weaken inside remote temples, forested areas, mountainous terrain and isolated coastal locations. Download essential maps and booking information before long overland journeys.

Coverage on common routes

Phnom Penh and Siem Reap: Mobile service is generally easiest in the cities and along populated sections of the route. Temporary gaps remain possible during overland travel.

Angkor Archaeological Park: Data is commonly available around major visitor areas, but signal quality can vary among individual temples and forested sections.

Cambodian islands: Coverage on Koh Rong, Koh Rong Samloem and smaller islands depends heavily on the beach, resort location and line of sight to mainland infrastructure. Ask the accommodation which operator works locally.

Northeastern Cambodia: Travelers heading toward Mondulkiri or Ratanakiri should expect more variation than in Phnom Penh. Save maps, addresses and transport details offline.

Border areas: Phones may detect Thai, Vietnamese or Lao networks near international borders. Automatic network selection can create roaming charges on a home or foreign SIM. Check the displayed network name before using significant data.

Pocket WiFi

Pocket WiFi can connect several phones, tablets and laptops through one portable router. It is potentially useful for a family whose phones do not support eSIM or for a group carrying WiFi-only devices.

Cambodia does not have a consistently documented nationwide tourist pocket-WiFi rental market comparable with destinations such as Japan. A dependable current rental rate, deposit, airport collection point and return process could not be confirmed for July 26, 2026.

That makes pocket WiFi less predictable than purchasing a SIM or installing an eSIM. A rental may still be arranged through a hotel, local agency or specialist supplier, but verify:

Total daily or weekly price.
Data allowance and speed restrictions.
Security deposit.
Airport, hotel or courier delivery.
Where and when the router must be returned.
Battery duration and charging equipment.
Loss or damage charges.

One router also keeps the group physically tied together. Anyone who leaves with the device takes the connection with them. For groups that regularly separate, individual SIMs or eSIMs are usually more flexible.

Airport and public WiFi

Techo International Airport

Techo International Airport officially provides free terminal WiFi. Airport information available on the checked date described a free 60-minute connection period, so travelers should not assume unlimited continuous access.

Use it to send an arrival message, locate a booking confirmation or arrange transport. Downloading large files may consume valuable connection time.

Complimentary WiFi is also available on designated Phnom Penh city airport buses and at associated stations through a partnership introduced in 2026. Availability should still be treated as a transport convenience rather than a replacement for trip-wide mobile data.

Siem Reap and Sihanoukville airports

WiFi availability at Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport may help with initial arrival tasks, but a clear official usage limit was not available for verification.

Sihanouk International Airport officially offers free, unlimited terminal WiFi in arrivals and departures. Connect to the airport’s published network name and accept its terms to go online.

Hotels, cafés and coworking spaces

Free WiFi is common in hotels, guesthouses, cafés and restaurants in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and other established tourist areas. Quality varies considerably, particularly in budget accommodation or when many guests share one connection.

Public WiFi works well for:

Backing up photos.
Downloading entertainment.
Installing updates.
Making longer video calls.
Conserving mobile data.

It is less dependable for tuk-tuk journeys, walking directions, translation and overland transport because the connection ends when you leave the venue.

Confirm the network name with staff before joining. Disable automatic connection to unknown networks, and use mobile data for sensitive transactions when the available WiFi network cannot be verified.

Best option by traveler type

First-time visitor on a one- or two-week trip: Roafly is the easiest choice when an eSIM-compatible phone is available. Install it before departure and use data as soon as the supported network becomes available.

Traveler who wants a Cambodian number: Buy Smart’s US$5 Traveller SIM or compare it with Cellcard’s current tourist packages. A local number can help with conventional calls to hotels, drivers and businesses.

Budget traveler staying several weeks: Visit official Smart, Cellcard and Metfone stores after arrival. Cambodia’s domestic prepaid bundles can provide substantially more data per dollar than travel products, but confirm the complete SIM and plan cost.

Late-night arrival at Techo Airport: Prepare an eSIM before departure or use airport WiFi temporarily. Do not rely on a SIM booth being open when its hours are not published.

Family with multiple devices: Use individual eSIMs or SIMs when family members may separate. Consider pocket WiFi only after confirming rental, deposit and return arrangements.

Remote worker: Choose a sufficiently large mobile allowance and keep hotel or coworking WiFi as the primary connection. Hotspot capability makes Roafly useful as a backup, but critical calls should not depend on one network.

Regional Southeast Asia trip: Consider Roafly’s Asia regional coverage rather than replacing the plan at every border. Check that all intended destinations are included before purchasing.

Phone without eSIM support: Buy a registered physical SIM from an official airport booth, operator shop or authorized service point.

FAQs

Can tourists buy a SIM card in Cambodia?

Yes. Tourists can purchase prepaid SIMs from Cambodian operators, including Smart, Cellcard and Metfone. Bring your passport because legitimate local SIM service must be registered to an identified user.

How much does a Cambodia tourist SIM cost?

Verified tourist packages checked on July 26, 2026 included Smart’s 30 GB, 15-day Traveller SIM for US$5, Cellcard’s 3 GB, three-day package for US$5, and Cellcard’s 7 GB, seven-day package for US$7. The complete price and availability should be reconfirmed at purchase.

Can I buy a SIM at Techo International Airport?

Smart states that its Traveller SIM is sold at Smart booths in Cambodia’s international airports. However, the exact Techo booth location, opening hours, card-payment conditions and stock status were not clearly published. Late-night arrivals should have a backup.

Do I need a passport to buy a Cambodian SIM?

Yes. Take the original passport used for your trip. Do not buy an anonymously activated SIM or one registered under another person’s identity.

Is an eSIM better than a local SIM in Cambodia?

An eSIM is better for pre-departure setup, immediate data and avoiding a store visit. A local SIM is better when you need a Cambodian number, included calls or the lowest possible price for a longer stay.

Does Cambodia have free airport WiFi?

Yes. Techo International Airport provides free WiFi, with airport information indicating a 60-minute session. Sihanouk International Airport officially offers free unlimited terminal WiFi. Conditions at other airports can change.

Which Cambodian mobile network is best?

There is no universal winner for every itinerary. Smart has a clearly priced airport tourist package, Cellcard offers dedicated short-validity Traveller SIMs, and Metfone is relevant when provincial coverage matters. Exact performance depends on location, terrain, congestion and device compatibility.

Final recommendation

For a typical holiday in Cambodia, installing a Roafly eSIM before departure is the most convenient option. It avoids airport-stock uncertainty, local SIM registration and physical SIM swapping while supporting hotspot use across the purchased allowance.

Choose a local tourist SIM instead when you need a Cambodian number, conventional calls or maximum data for the lowest verified local price. Smart’s US$5, 15-day Traveller SIM is currently the clearest airport option, while Cellcard provides simple three- and seven-day alternatives.

Home-carrier roaming is best reserved for plans that explicitly include Cambodia at an acceptable rate. Public WiFi is useful on arrival and at accommodation, but it should remain a backup rather than your only way to navigate the country.