Samdech Techo Hun Sen urges use of Telegram’s live feature for better viewer experience
Senate President Hun Sen presides over the extraordinary congress of the Cambodia Veteran Association (CVA), held at the Ministry of Interior in Phnom Penh on September 29. Ministry of Interior
Senate President Hun Sen yesterday promoted the live option in the Telegram application, highlighting that the feature makes it easier for viewers to watch live streams due to less internet data requirement compared to Facebook.
Presiding over the closing ceremony of the extraordinary congress of the Cambodia Veteran Association (CVA), Mr Hun Sen, also the President of CVA, urged the 13,440 members to adopt the use of the telegram application. “Actually, in telegram, we can do many things to promote CVA and other activities,” he said.
Mr Hun Sen continued, “On Facebook, I didn’t see many activities posted. That’s why we have created a working group to receive information from the Bayon TV, my social media groups and CVA to further promote the government activities,” he said.
“Some Telegram channel operators are not aware that we can actually broadcast live just like on the Facebook application. Actually, today’s event should have been live-streamed on our Telegram channel, but to be honest, some of our operators don’t know how to use it yet,” he added.
Mr Hun Sen noted that his Telegram channel previously had over 1 million members, but due to passive performance, the number dropped to around 700,000 members, while Prime Minister Hun Manet currently has around 470,000 members.
The Senate President went on to check the Premier and CVA telegram channels, noting that none were broadcasting live for the event, except the ‘Samdach Hun Sen of Cambodia’ channel.
“If you don’t know how to live on Telegram, please learn. On Facebook, it requires a strong internet connection and consumes more data to broadcast live,” he added.
Analysts noted that telecom operators and internet service providers may be influenced by this trend, as users shifting toward Telegram could reshape data consumption patterns.
The platform’s appeal lies not only in affordability but also in the user-friendly access it provides to live content, potentially opening new opportunities for both public agencies and businesses to engage with audiences efficiently.
Speaking to Khmer Times, Chey Tech, a socio-economic researcher, noted that promoting live streaming on Telegram is a positive initiative, as the platform truly requires less internet data, benefiting citizens in provinces and rural areas with limited connectivity.
“Telegram’s efficiency allows ordinary viewers to engage online without incurring high internet costs, making digital communication more inclusive and accessible,” he said.
Tech added that for the government, adopting Telegram could enhance transparency and public outreach by reaching wider audiences efficiently.
Meanwhile, businesses could leverage the platform to connect with consumers more effectively, particularly in data-sensitive markets, creating opportunities for digital marketing, customer engagement, and service delivery while reducing barriers linked to high data consumption, he added.
In 2024, Cambodia’s social media landscape expanded to around 11.65 million users across platforms like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, representing roughly 68 percent of the population, highlighting growing digital engagement and economic opportunities.
Telegram, while smaller in user base compared to Facebook, is gaining attention for its low-data consumption and secure messaging features, making it increasingly attractive for government, businesses and citizens.
-Khmer Times-
