Strengthening economy with broadband Internet

Sanath Siriwardena

The Broadband is the high speed Internet that allows users to access the Internet at faster speeds, completes tasks quickly than ordinary Internet, and always-on technology that packed with many other interactive services. This is the simplest definition available for broadband Internet.

The medium could be anything from fiber, cable, wireless and if its fast and broad enough to pump more data, then it's called broadband.

The broadband Internet or "high speed" Internet hit Sri Lankan community in early 2003 with the introduction of ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) Internet by the incumbent operator, Sri Lanka Telecom Limited.

The "broadband" remained as something unfamiliar to many Sri Lankans for the last couple of years. However, the situation has changed as more players started to provide broadband services in recent times.

Dialog Telekom has also entered into the broadband market in the country last year with state-of-art wireless broadband Internet service called WiMax. (World Wide Interpretability for Microwave Access).

Dialog will be the second to provide broadband and will be the first to provide WBA (wireless broadband access) environment in Sri Lanka.

However, the number of players in the market alone would do no good to the country unless we indentify the significance of broadband Internet.

The word broadband is in fact broad and it packed with multiple futuristic services. The capabilities of broadband are unmatched. Broadband could be regarded as a modern life-companion, which promises wide range of social, and economic benefits to its users by changing the way they work, think, live and entertain.

Countries around the world such as South Korea, Japan, Canada, Sweden and especially the European countries timely identified the importance of broadband and already adapted the service to their economies with no time.

Many governments in Europe are taking the lead and they were expecting a 30% increment in total productivity growth upon successful completion of broadband by the end of 2010. This shows that the place once occupied by the ordinary telephone has taken by the ascendant broadband.

Their is no doubt that the socio and economic revolution created with the introduction of telephone in 20th century would recreated by the broadband all over the world in 21st century.

In developed countries, broadband is a public commodity like water and electricity that is needed in day-to-day life. People living in countries with higher broadband and Internet penetration, have the privilege of doing their regular things over the Internet.

Companies providing public utility services like electricity, telephone, water and even banks have come on-line to serve their customers by further assuring the quality of services that they provide.

Having identifying its role, governments are taking every possible step to encourage the development of broadband within their jurisdiction.

In fact, the broadband "boom" was first witnessed in South Korea. The broadband initiatives were implemented by the government of South Korea have contributed vast amount of benefits to its economy that no one could ever believe.

The figures have shown in 2002, more than 30% of their GDP transacted over the Internet, indicating the world how broadband could change any economy in the world if adopted. It is inevitable, that government's direct involvement and its polices were playing a major role in creating a mass scale broadband market in any territory. What is underneath in every successful broadband story is the government's involvement.

The success of Nenasela project in Sri Lanka is another good example for this. In less than two years, 500 Nenasala centers have opened mainly in rural areas by the ICTA, under the guidance of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The creation of "knowledgeable society" considered as one of the main concepts of broadband. The vast amount of Information, entertainment and services makes life easier than ever before. The overall efficiency will have great impact on national GDP and this growth of economy will be a benefit for the people living in the country.

Many organisations around the world, implemented policies for broadband, further assuring the work role of it, in favour of its benefiters. The on-line services available such as social and public welfare, governments find it easier to deliver their services to the public than ever before. The e-governance will increase the efficiency of the governments, and this reduces the gap between people and the government.

Therefore, the government can primarily encourage the use of broadband Internet through e-government process.

This country is about to miss this golden opportunity as we have missed many others. If we delay the adoption, this would be a great injustice to the country, people and to the economy.

Governmental investment on broadband infrastructure will lead to greater economic wealth and social fulfillment for the country - and if not acted upon soon, some of the opportunities, especially industry competitiveness, will be lost, as other countries will already seize the advantage.

National policy for broadband is required without further delaying to accomplish these tasks and more importantly, the government's intervention is essential. To accelerate the broadband growth in the country, the government has to take the lead through examples.

Telecommunication Infrastructure development is very vital for the smooth role out of broadband in the country. Undoubtedly, the market conditions and the infrastructure access problems prevented the country from achieving its Internet oriented goals.

The benefits expected from the International trade lost due to under developed-uncompetitive, costly infrastructure facilities in the country. BPO companies would be reluctant to invest because of highly priced communication infrastructure and deprived quality services.

Especially the leased line prices are discouraging the foreign investors from opening their offices in Sri Lanka. Indo-Sri Lanka price comparison indicates that Sri Lankan prices are more than 590% higher than in India.

Because of this, the nation will continue to live in the dark and compensate for the benefit of providers. These type malaises in Sri Lankan telecom sector will jeopardise the economy of this country and directly causing heavy burden to the government.

To counteract this situation, national priority should be given to the process of implication of broadband policy and the government's appropriate actions regarding this would be needed.

Creating an independent body or task force, backed by the government, to study the present Internet environment in the country is essential. To achieve its goals, the broadband task force should come under the head of the state.

To meet the emerging demands of competitive world, national policy for broadband Internet is a must. Government offices, banks, schools, universities, hospitals, hotels and private sector companies must turn to broadband oriented places where others have the access remotely.

People in the country must be educated regarding broadband technology and the benefits people could reap by using. Broadband should not be a luxury in Sri Lankan's life any more.

Similarly, all citizens in this country must have the privilege of accessing the Internet at affordable price with fast enough connection to accomplish one's tasks. To make this happen, broadband should recognise as a 'national goal' and the priority should be given.

The creation of e-Sri Lanka and making of knowledgeable society through increasing the IT literacy as stated in "Mahida Chinthnaya" is possible by creating a nationwide access network, where all people can have access to the Internet, affordably irrespective of their social levels. The less beneficiaries from rural villages, must collectively added to the mainstream of the economic development of the country by facilitating broadband Internet in to their village hoods.

The President's vision for e-Sri Lanka was clearly stated in his manifest and there would be no such document in the history like Mahinda Chinthnaya, which recognises the importance and the necessity of IT development in this country.

The President's commitment for making e-Sri Lanka by increasing the computer literacy in the country again highlighted in his speech, at the inauguration of 500th Nenasala centre recently.

The President's commitment, vision and readiness will further encourage and strengthen the hearts of people through his leadership. Therefore, I would like to invite experts, service providers and policy makers to join to strengthen the country through making a Sri Lanka an IT HUB in the South Asian region.

The Broadband in Sri Lanka in 2010 is the "dictum" we should use in the future to inspire the minds of our people.