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by Manjula Fernando

An Information and telecommunications convergence policy to deal with overlapping areas and ensuing issues in the two sectors will be finalised early next year by the Telecom Regulatory Commission.

The convergence of technologies will be a quantum leap towards a mature information society and will help to transform the economy and the services including the lifestyles of everyone. This will help job creation, growth and increased consumer choice, Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Development Minister Indika Gunawardena in a recent statement on convergence policy said.

The Government has understood the importance in converging technologies, thus, arrangements are being made to prepare a national convergence policy by January next year, the Minister added.

Minister Gunawardena was the chief Guest at the Compendium on ICT Convergence 2001 which was held at the BMICH recently. The Compendium was organised by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission to highlight the importance of convergence of technologies so as to stir discussion towards a national policy.

Minister Gunawardena said the private sector vision has already been documented in IT and the Telecommunications policies. "What needs to be done is to formalise them in a convergence policy and commence implementing them," he explained.

"The shortfall of ICT professional in the country is a great hindrance for the sustainable development of this sector. The SLIIT's Malabe IT campus scheduled to be opened later this month would enable to increase the output of skilled and qualified ICT professionals. An exhibition of converging technologies will be inaugurated concurrent to the opening of the campus," he said.

He said the private sector role in developing the ICT sector was praiseworthy and he would take measures to provide concessions and assistance to encourage them to work towards realising this common goal.

He added that Cabinet approval had been obtained for the SLIIT to set up fibre based and satellite based bandwidth for data communications both locally and internationally. The private sector has long been clamouring for this facility as it has been a major obstacle for their continued investment and growth. 

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