Dialog Telekom to invest $ 10 m on Northern towers

Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI

Dialog Telekom will invest USD 5-10 million this year to construct 60 new towers in identified areas in the liberated regions in the Northern Province, said CEO Dialog Telekom Dr Hans Wijesuriya.

He was speaking at a press conference at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel after commissioning its services from Dialog’s Network Operation Centre in Colombo to Mankulam, Pooneryn, Elephant Pass, Thunukkai and Madhu areas in addition to Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu with developments under way to expand coverage to other parts of the province.

Mobile coverage from Dialog now reaches these areas without any problem, he said. Dialog will continue to provide a clarity service for their customers and expand without looking at the customer base, he said.

Director General, Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, Priyantha Kariyapperuma said that two towers will be constructed in Jaffna and Kilinochchi and the Kokavil Tower destroyed by the LTTE will be reconstructed within 120 days. The 172-metre heigh Kokavil tower will be the tallest tower in the country.

The foundation stone will be laid by Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa on August 19, he said.

All other mobile service operators will also be allowed to share the infrastructure to broadcast and telecast their programs using these towers.

The 120-metre Kilin-ochchi tower will be completed with Sri Lanka Telekom (SLT) and the areas will be identified shortly to have one or two towers in each area.

He said that all three companies extended their fullest support to this initiative.

Chief Signals Officer of the Sri Lanka Army, Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe said that the newly liberated area is getting mobile coverage for the first time and communication will be the most important once resettlement is completed. The Sri Lanka Army will continue to give its fullest support.