Cutting edge technology unveiled:

Mobitel invests US$ 200 m on 3G HSPA

Shirajiv Sirimane

Mobitel Lanka has invested US$ 200 million to introduce the latest version of 3 G technology to Sri Lanka offering the ‘fastest’ mobile internet access.

This is the first and only 3G HSPA network in South Asia.

The difference in the application is that this M3 service will allow downloading and uploading of large files, such as email attachments in a considerably shorter time than on 2.5G or 3G platforms, helping mobile data users focus their time more on the content and less on the waiting.

Chairman Sri Lanka Telecom, Asoka Weerasinghe de Silva said the launch of 3G will herald a new era for Mobitel and give them a cutting edge.

CEO Mobitel, Surein J. Ameresekere said they launched GSM two years ago and now the latest 3G network and they make a unique mobile player in the region. “No other operator has achieved this feature with such a short time,” he said.

“In achieving this pioneering feat, we wish to recognise the commitment of Huawei Technologies extended to Mobitel.”

“We believe that unlike other nomadic broadband offerings using alternate technologies such as WiMAX, Mobitel’s M3 the ‘super-3.5G’ service offers the only ‘truly mobile ICT’ available in the country.

No other operator in Sri Lanka or for that matter in South Asia currently offers HSUPA.

“Apart from Mobile Broadband, Mobitel also offers a rich suite of 3G products like video calling, video messaging, mobile TV, Push Mail which will enrich a third generation mobile lifestyle collectively known as “M3”. “M3 is our new philosophy,” CEO said.

He said another unique feature of the service would be that the both voice and Video call on 3G would be charged as the same rate.

“We have also designed several packages at low prices. As the National Mobile Service Provider, we have stepped upto take on the challenge to aggressively promote this all-important economic enabler by having 60% of population covered at the time of launch and eventually reaching the deepest corners of Sri Lanka. 2008 is set to be a breakthrough year for mobile Internet users in Sri Lanka,” he said.