Suntel expands CDMA subscriber base

TELECOM PLAYER: Suntel, which entered the telecommunications market to provide fixed phone services is today the leading private fixed phone operator with the largest CDMA network in the country with over 180,000 subscribers.

The company recorded a year on year revenue increase of 35% and EBITDA of 23% during 2005.

The customer base grew by 81% during the year 2005. Inspite of the increased capital expenditure and additional costs of the launch of the CDMA network and products Suntel continued to produce a positive bottom line for the year ended December 31, 2005.

The accelerated expansion launched mid 2005 was driven by Suntel's CDMA 2000 1X technology, which was rolled out with the declared vision of connecting every Sri Lankan home.

Suntel pumped in Rs 2 billion into its CDMA network during the last financial year and over the next three years, is expected to strengthen the network with investments of a further Rs. 8 billion.

The rapid and large scale expansion of CDMA has enabled the company to deliver telecom solutions to the remotest parts of the country, empowering people everywhere with the freedom of telecommunications.

Last year with a vision to provide every home with a telephone Suntel deployed its CDMA network which within 8 months has reached every nook and corner of the island covering 80% of the population in 22 districts making affordable telecommunications accessible to people in most parts of the country.

With over 155 base stations around the island, Suntel CDMA has a population coverage in Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Matara, Kandy, Ratnapura, Kurunegala, Kegalle and Hambantota, Kalutara, Matale, Nuwara Eliya, Puttalam, Badulla, Monaragala, Ampara and Vavuniya Districts Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Batticaloa and Trincomalee. Jaffna and Mannar remain the only districts not covered by the Suntel CDMA network.

Managing Director of Suntel Jerry Huxtable said, "We are delighted with the response we have received to our CDMA telephones; and we are indeed pleased to have played a positive role in developing Sri Lanka's telecommunications by improving penetration rates.