SLT to expand infrastructure for Broadband services

Sri Lanka Telecom, the nation's number one integrated communications service provider, is to announce that it has enhanced its voice and data networks to next generation architecture.

This countrywide state-of-the-art Internet Protocol/Multi Protocol Label Switching (IP/MPLS) based communication backbone is capable of connecting every corner in Sri Lanka, in order to deliver broadband content.

IP/MPLS backbone

Today, the SLT core network has evolving towards IP/MPLS, which can help SLT to meet the challenges successfully for IP bearer networks such as Quality of Service (QoS), reliability, security, expansibility, manageability as well as multi service bearing.

As a result, the traditional IP network has non-quality internet service, which is being transformed into carrier class IP bearer network, with the best multi-service. This includes Internet Protocol Television (IPTV), Next Generation Network (NGN) and IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) which allows SLT to enable Fixed-Mobile-Convergence (FMC).

This network is able to assist the company by CAPEX and OPEX reduction, flexible operation management, value added services innovation and business model improvement.

SLT also uses the MPLS network to deploy NGN especially in provisioning traditional telephony services and more IP related services. The service is currently provided in Matara on the same telephone set but will evolve into broadband voice providing VoIP into soft or hard IP telephone sets in the future.

These VoIP phones will be similar in appearance to Skype, with many added features such as online directory services and IP based messaging. MPLS networks are also used today for IP multicasting to enable video applications such as IPTV on broadband access with IP converged triple play services to the end user.

High capacity optical fibre network

A high-speed island-wide optical fibre telecommunications infrastructure is yet another goal for SLT with its Central, Metro and Southern Ring, North - East Central Ring and East - Uva Central Ring already in service.

The company's optical fibre ring network has been designed to provide high transport capacity, which will have around 1500km of optical fibres to interconnect all provinces in Sri Lanka. The network establishment facilitates Sri Lankan's to have seamless connectivity island-wide.

In support of the fibre backbone, SLT has already introduced the MPLS network, which is the next generation packet based IP transport technology. The MPLS backbone expansion will enable the company to spread its converged next generation all IP broadband services such IPTV.

The MPLS based network has been in operation since 2003, covering all Metro rings along with Kandy and Negombo in the Central Ring and Galle and Matara in the Southern Ring.

The SLT MPLS network infrastructure is expanding its coverage with the northern, central and southern parts of the country. Major cities already covered through fibre optic connectivity with the MPLS network, includes Kandy, Galle, Matara, Gampaha, Negombo, Anuradhapura, Vavuniya, Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, Awissawela, Ratnapura, Kalutara, Matara, Hambantota and Kurunegala. Also Trincomalee and Jaffna will be covered under the on-going network expansion very soon.

SLT Metro Ethernet

The company has already rolled out its Metro Ethernet Services in order to support advanced data, voice, video and higher-speed internet services. The Metro Ethernet is a Metro access network of fibre optic rings based on MPLS technology connecting high-rise buildings.

The SLT Metro Ethernet services are mainly for businesses as well as high-end business customers. It deployed the Metro Ethernet to deliver end-to-end intelligent solutions to its corporate and SMB customers, based on state-of-the-art MPLS technology.

SLT Ethernet will provide integrated single port connectivity for multiple services such as voice, high-speed data, high speed internet, video conferencing and networking solutions.

The SLT Metro Ethernet has already completed three access fibre rings in Colombo, connecting 18 buildings. Plans are in place to connect 100 buildings in Colombo by the end of this year.

Each of these buildings has an MPLS capable Metro Ethernet switch, which can provide native Ethernet interface to the customer. This is because the Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) can be directly connected to the SLT Metro Ethernet.

Broadband demand

The main service provided by the SLT IP/MPLS backbone is providing IP-VPN to its valuable corporate customers. SLT started its remote VPN access based on IP-Sec which enables secure connection using any access technology in 2005.

This service provides many advantages to customers by giving mobility and remote access. Customers can also connect to the corporate VPN using any access technology such as PSTN, ISDN, ADSL, CDMA, internet and Wi-Fi. Remote VPN access will be available to any corporate VPN via GPRS in the near future.

The demand and growth rate of IP-VPN ports has increased 100 per cent in 2006 compared to the year 2005. Globally, the growth of broadband is 500 per cent, which is a vital utility for both business and residence entities and SLT ADSL showed the same trend in Sri Lanka, growing over 100 per cent per annum during the past four years.

Mega ICT projects

SLT customers can enjoy a host of value added services such as broadband internet, VoIP services, IPTV, Video on Demand (VoD), e-learning and gaming, ushering in a new era in communications technology in the country.