Dialog commences first 3G service in Sri Lanka

TELECOM: Dialog Telekom announced today that they would launch Commercial 3G services in the City of Colombo with effect from August 16, 2006. In doing so the Company puts Sri Lanka on the map as the first country in South Asia to launch a 3rd Generation network.

Chief Executive Dialog Telekom Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya received the 3G license from the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) Chairman and Secretary to the President, Lalith Weeratunge and Director General Kanchana Ratwatte yesterday, signalling the formal go ahead from the Government for the introduction of commercial 3G services in Sri Lanka.

Announcing the commencement of the company's commercial 3G service, Dr Wijayasuriya emphasised the company's appreciation of the progressive and pro-evolution policies of the TRCSL.

"Sri Lanka becomes the first 3G enabled country in South Asia due in no small measure, to the progressive policies of the TRCSL.

The TRCSL has led the region in terms of technology evolution for many years. Sri Lanka was also the first country to introduce GSM in South Asia in 1995. With respect to 3G, Dialog has the good fortune of being permitted to carry out a 3G trial as far back as two years ago well ahead of regional counterparts.

"Today, with the introduction of commercial services in the city of Colombo, we begin an all new journey into 3rd Generation services and high speed mobile broadband"

Dialog's 3G network will initially provide coverage in the City of Colombo but is set to expand rapidly over the months to follow. "Dialog is committed to make 3G and the multi media services it delivers, meaningful, available and affordable to all Sri Lankan's in the same manner we transformed digital mobile telephony in Sri Lanka over the last decade," Dr. Wijayasuriya added.

Commencing August 16, Dialog customers who possess 3G compatible mobile phones can avail themselves of Dialog 3G services including Video Calls, IDD Video Calls, TV on the phone, high speed Internet connections for Web Browsing, Video Streaming, Music and Movie Downloads and Online Games.

Dialog 3G will also support high speed mobile broadband at speeds in excess of 1.5mbps. HSDPA is a significant advancement within the global 3G roadmap and direct benefits to customers from HSDPA range from faster web browsing and high-speed file downloads through to high quality video, live streaming and gaming services.