Government Puts Controversial Internet Gateway on Hold

The Telecom Ministry confirmed this afternoon the controversial National Internet Gateway, expected to come online Wednesday, has been postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic and potential disruptions to online traffic. The government released a sub-decree establishing the gateway on February 16, 2020, and said it would be implemented in 12 months.

Telecommunications Ministry spokesperson Meas Po said Tuesday the gateway had been delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, also alluding to the technical difficulty in implementing such a system. “Because it is an activity whenever we implement it, we have to prepare to install and order equipment in order to prepare and create the gateway.

And we have to give licenses to any company that the government understands that has the ability to create the gateway. That’s why it can affect the traffic,” Po said. He did not answer questions on how long the gateway was delayed and denied the delay had anything to do with pushback from local and international rights groups.

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