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Cabinet approval obtained:
Sri Lanka to acquire satellite technology
Sanjeevi JAYASURIYA
Sri Lanka will acquire satellite technology shortly with the setting
up of the Sri Lanka Space Agency (SLASA), a regulatory body for new
technology.
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Priyantha Kariyapperuma |
“Cabinet approval has been obtained to acquire satellite technology,
which would be considered an investment for the future.
The SLASA would act as a data processing centre to facilitate the new
technology to be acquired from the Surrey University under the guidance
of Prof. Sir Martin Sweeting”, Telecommunication Regulatory Commission
Sri Lanka Director General, Priyantha Kariyapperuma told Daily News
Business. The TRC will work closely with the Colombo, Moratuwa and
Peradeniya Universities to train professionals under phase one. This
would help human resource development to build a satellite. The
acquisition of the new technology would provide an opportunity for the
younger generation to study space technology, he said.
The setting up of the Sri Lanka Space Communication Company would
facilitate commercial purposes and enable public private partnership to
attract investments. The cost of the new technology would be determined
after a careful analysis, he said.
The country’s telecommunication industry has a growth potential,
especially in the mobile industry sector that recorded a tremendous
growth during the past six months.
The number of mobile subscribers has increased by over two million
during this period. There are over 13 million mobile users at present,
Kariyapperuma said. The mobile industry will move in to the
interconnection regime on par with India, Malaysia and the UAE. The TRC
is assessing the impact on the introduction of this regime to protect
subscribers as well as operators.
We are trying to arrive at a consensus to promote harmony among
operators for their benefit and to avoid under cutting practices. An
interconnection rate would be introduced within the next three months.
There would be a floor price for the mobile industry to ensure
sustainability, he said.
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