Lanka Internet systems quality progress appreciated

LAUD: Sri Lankan Internet systems are of high quality, said visiting lecturer of SANOG IX, South Asia's largest networking conference Dr. Philip Smith yesterday in Colombo.

Sri Lanka Telecom, the number one communications provider in Sri Lanka is hosting the event, a statement says.

Smith who has been with Cisco Systems since 1998 said that he was impressed with the speedy progress and said that the country has installed a good back up system. Smith who is a member of the Internet Architecture's Group in Corporate Consulting said that steps have been taken to prevent a complete breakdown of the Internet service. "This is very good as it shows that the country is learning from their mistakes," he said.

Having worked with many ISPs in the Asia he said that he was also impressed in the manner in which the SAARC countries are networking among themselves.

"This helps to exchange knowledge, information and would also iron out problems in the region if and when they arise," he said.

Smith was one of the first engineers working in the commercial Internet in the UK, and played a key role in building the modern Internet in Europe.

Prior to joining Cisco, Smith spent five years at PIPEX (now part of UUNET's global ISP business), the UK's first commercial Internet Service Provider.

This is the first time an event of this nature is being held in Sri Lanka and there are over 250 participants from the SAARC countries. The forum will be held until 24th, at the Trans Asia Hotel, with a framework incorporating workshops and tutorials in conjunction with a conference held on the last two days.

The panel of speakers at the forum includes leading consultants, trainers and policy-makers of international repute such as Dr. Vishal Sharma of Metonia Inc, Dr. Philip Smith of Cisco, Bill Woodcock, Research Director, Packet Clearing House, Champika Wijayatunga, Senior Trainer, Cecil Goldstein, Training Manager and Amante Alvaran, Trainer of the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre.

With a view of making Sri Lanka a broadband island, SLT is in the process of introducing the necessary infrastructure in the form of NGN [Next Generation Networks] using optical fibre backbone and broadband services such as IMS, IPTV etc.

SLT also provides high speed global connectivity to countries in the South Asian region through its investments in international submarine cables such as SMW3, SMW4 and the Bharat Lanka submarine cable [between India and Sri Lanka] and Dhirragu-SLT submarine cable system between Maldive Islands and Sri Lanka.

Newly incorporate SLT Hong Kong Ltd, a fully owned subsidiary of Sri Lanka Telecom, fully geared to provide services such as IP transit, IPVPN, IPLC and International voice traffic transit services to global telecom operators and corporates in Hong Kong.