In the future, if not now, will we be able to get our signals directly from hundreds of satellites without having to go through any land based system ?

yes, if you are in possession of an 'illegal communication device'

Saudi Arabia has had this kind of internet gateway for many years. There were lots of ways to get around it and the Saudi people adopted them enthusiastically. Most local websites were hosted outside Saudi Arabia. Most housing complexes set up their own satellite dishes to get signals directly. These were of doubtful legality but they were built in such a way that the authorities could not detect them. It was also possible for individual households to set up their own but this was expensive. The gateway was not so much political - the government was mainly concerned about porn. They had other ways to maintain political control. Most likely those who wish to avoid the gateway will find ways of doing it in Cambodia.

Phnom Poon wrote: ↑Thu Feb 18, 2021 6:28 am yes, if you are in possession of an 'illegal communication device'

In the future, if not now, will we be able to get our signals ( on my Samsung XXX smartphone ) directly from hundreds of satellites without having to go through any land based system ?

depends
how good is your aim?

samrong01 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 18, 2021 7:28 am Saudi Arabia has had this kind of internet gateway for many years. There were lots of ways to get around it and the Saudi people adopted them enthusiastically. Most local websites were hosted outside Saudi Arabia. Most housing complexes set up their own satellite dishes to get signals directly. These were of doubtful legality but they were built in such a way that the authorities could not detect them. It was also possible for individual households to set up their own but this was expensive. The gateway was not so much political - the government was mainly concerned about porn. They had other ways to maintain political control. Most likely those who wish to avoid the gateway will find ways of doing it in Cambodia.

The resources of your average Saudi are pretty different to those of your average Khmer. Most Cambodians couldn't even afford a decent VPN.

On the flip side, it would be a good time to start positioning some VPN products for the Khmer market as the demand will surely soar. Price point would be a key factor. Ease of use will be 2nd.

My personal guess is that physical hardware VPN boxes will become available or even preconfigured routers with locked firmwares. Basically something plug and play.

Might be something here... hmm.

Privacy does not need to be expensive. It can be free... as shown recently around the world.

OPINION: Why Cambodia’s China-style internet gateway is problematic
by Michael Caster | ARTICLE 19
Thursday, 18 February 2021 11:44 GMT

* Any views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Michael Caster is Asia Digital Programme Manager with Article 19.

On Wednesday, the Cambodian government enacted a decree establishing a national internet gateway, paving the way for the creation of a China-style Great Firewall. Implementing a centralized censorship and surveillance infrastructure of this scale allows Prime Minister HE to tighten the noose on what remains of internet freedom in Cambodia. The decree should be repealed.

Under the decree, all internet traffic will be routed through a single portal, the National Internet Gateway (NIG). On paper, NIG operators will enforce government orders to block or disconnect any network activities deemed a risk to national security, social order, culture, and other vaguely defined ills. Broadly speaking, the NIG will be used to throttle any network activity at the government’s will. Although the decree establishes a complaints procedure, there are serious questions about oversight and the right to remedy in light of the lack of judicial independence in Cambodia.

The decree is set to take effect in early 2022. The timing is noteworthy as Cambodia will hold commune elections next year, with national elections to follow in 2023. Once functioning, the NIG will make it much easier for the government to block the websites of independent news media and civil society, as it did to at least 17 websites ahead of the 2018 national election.

The NIG poses a fundamental threat to the rights of freedom of expression and information, and to privacy.

Under international human rights law, these rights may only be restricted under extremely narrow and strictly defined circumstances. They must be prescribed by law with sufficient precision - vague restrictions such as those listed in the decree are impermissible. Additionally, they must be in pursuit of a legitimate aim, and necessary and proportionate to that aim. Some aims listed in the decree, including protecting “dignity” and “culture”, are not legitimate grounds on which these rights can be restricted.

The Johannesburg Principles on National Security, Freedom of Expression and Access to Information likewise states that restrictions on the grounds of national security are illegitimate if they are a pretext for protecting the government or concealing information about the government. HE’s track record raises concern that the NIG will be abused to censor criticism or block access to sensitive information.

In addition to the threats of broad censorship, the decree will likely facilitate arbitrary and abusive internet surveillance by government officials. The decree requires NIG operators to collect, retain and share an undefined and near-unlimited array of personal data belonging to every web user in Cambodia. The centralized storage of such information creates serious vulnerabilities for data security and privacy, that should likewise be a serious concern for foreign firms and chambers of commerce operating in Cambodia.
https://news.trust.org/item/20210218114422-gh5k7/

The Cambodian government replies to concerns voiced about the National Internet Gateway:

Phnom Penh, After the Royal Government issued Sub-Decree No. 23 dated 16 February 2021 on the establishment of the National Internet Gateway, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications observed some reactions from the press and organizations Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have stated that the government aims to capture data, listen to users' conversations, restrict freedom of expression and follow China's example. The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications would like to inform the public that:

1. Allegations of the establishment of this national Internet gateway are baseless, politically motivated, contrary to the facts and contrary to the purpose stated in this sub-decree.

2. National Internet gateways are being set up in almost every country, not just in Cambodia.

3. The preparation of the sub-decree on the national Internet gateway was carried out openly and in consultation with experts in the field of telecommunications, private operators and relevant institutions on several occasions.

4. The establishment of this national Internet gateway aims to increase the efficiency of national revenue collection based on the principles of fair and honest competition and transparency between the state and the operators, as well as help prevent illegal cross-border network fraud and online gambling. Laws, cyberbullying, pornography, and online fraud.

The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications reiterates that there are no provisions in this sub-decree regarding the capture of user data and restrictions on freedom of expression. Meanwhile, the Ministry plans to draft a Personal Data Protection Law after the draft Cybersecurity Law is soon finalized.