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Etisalat has recognized Sri Lanka as a potential
market in Asia:
Tigo becomes etisalat
Harshini Perera
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Etisalat launch : The United Arab Emirate’s telecom giant,
etisalat was launched in Sri Lanka with the takeover of Tigo
which was Celltel earlier. The launch was at the Water’s
Edge yesterday. Here Director/Chief Executive Officer,
etisalat Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. Dumindra Ratnayaka and etisalat
Chief Marketing Officer, Essa Al Haddad at the launch.
Picture by Saliya Rupasinghe. See Business Pages for more
information. |
*Will add 1,000 more base stations
*Offer customer made packages
*Preferential rates for group networks
The United Arab Emirate’s telecom giant, Etisalat launched operations
in Sri Lanka with the takeover of Tigo which was Celltel earlier.
Telecommunications has become a major factor in development to which
Sri Lanka is heading and Etisalat will cater to customer oriented needs,
Etisalat Lanka Director/Chief Executive Officer Dumindra Ratnayaka said.
Speaking at the launch of Etisalat Lanka at Water’s Edge yesterday,
he said Etisalat Lanka expects to link Sri Lankan customers in the
United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with their
relatives in Sri Lanka.
The company will double the existing coverage network of 1,000 base
stations in the island.
Moreover 450 base stations for 2G technology as well as 500 base
stations for 3G technology will be installed within 12 months of its
operation. Out of 500 base stations for 3G, more than 100 base stations
will be installed in Jaffna and adjoining islands.
The service of Etisalat Lanka is available from yesterday for the
people in North and East covering 95 percent of the population there.
Among the prevailing base stations in Jaffna, eight were given
coverage from yesterday. Cable TV facilities too will be introduced in
the near future.
“Etisalat Lanka will ensure preferential rates for the group networks
covering overseas customers,” he said.
“At a time where all the other telecommunication providers work hard
to cut down rates, we will be concerned on the needs of the customers
while reducing our costs,” he said.
“Etisalat has its presence in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Tanzania,
Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Niger and Ivory Coast and has a large
customer base amounting to 100 million. |
