Seven million mobile users

Ruwanthi Abeyakoon

"Wireless development scorecard should be featured on fiscal policy planning. Telecommunication regulation should be given more importance at National Economic planning level," he said.

He added that Sri Lanka is well ahead of the curve in the mobile industry. "There will be seven million mobile users by the end of this year. The majority of transactions take place out side the banking system. Mobile can be used as an access device to the banking system. At present electronic money culture is accepted and people are used to electronic transactions," Wijayasuriya said.

He pointed out that access to banking and payment infrastructure is inadequate. "People are techno savvy. Mobile phone and the SIM card are powerful computing devices. Three most expensive infrastructures in banking, POS machine, ATM and Bank Teller will be replaced with the use of an inexpensive mobile phone," he said.

"This idea of introducing mobile phone for banking was looked at positively by Sri Lankan bankers. It will empower the average citizen with convenient and immediate access to e-commerce. It will also facilitate inward remittance and enable a broader market to enjoy banking," he said.

Wijayasuriya noted M-payment and citizen empowerment is very relevant for the developing country markets. "This system is established in countries like Philippines, South Africa and Kenya. Emerging implementation take place in India and Bangladesh. There should be a marriage between the strength of banking system with wireless infrastructure," he said.

He added that dialog NDB model is the pioneering project and this system it is open to all customers of all banks.

Wijayasuriya also spoke on inclusive philosophy that can be adopted in introducing a product. "In the context of a developing country full potential should be derived through inclusion of every citizen.

The mobile sector is the engine of the telecom growth. It contributes over 80 per cent to the National telecom growth. Inclusive philosophy is making the product available to as many as possible. Operators should look at the market, population and their aspirations to find the opportunity," he explained.

"Technology is in fact a great social leveler. Advanced technology has a low cost and greater flexibility. If the operator doesn't move into the next generation of technology at the right time consumers suffer. This is due to high cost of service pertaining to obsolete technology. Infrastructure should be there to take consumer demand," he added.

He also said inclusive philosophy maximises affordability achieving variable cost structures to support de-escalation of minimum cost of ownership. "Sachet selling is a primary tool of making a product inclusive. Sachet selling is breaking the product into pieces and making it affordable. This can be applied to mobile phones with prepaid cards that enables a person to buy the product in bits," Wijayasuriya said.

He pointed out that Dialog was the first to recognise the wealth at the bottom of the pyramid. "In preparation for emerging growth opportunity the company has focused on profit per minute and profit per user as lead indicators of an ongoing performance. These measurers have driven changes in the Company's cost," he said.