Lotus Tower to begin work next month
National policy on broadband soon:
Sanjeevi JAYASURIYA
The final Bill Of Quantities (BOQ) of the proposed Colombo TV tower
project is now being finalized.
The Telecommunication Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL)
expects to start construction work of the tower next month.
The 350-metre tower in Peliyagoda will be constructed with an
investment of US $ 103 million. This Lotus Tower will be the latest in
the country with seven levels, TRCSL Director General Anusha Palpita
told Daily News Business.
The tower is scheduled to be completed within 30 months and will be
managed by a public company owned by the TRCSL.
Its shares will be issued to the public once the construction process
is completed.
The country has sufficient TV and radio stations to match the
frequencies available and we are in the process of re-aligning the radio
frequencies to provide a better service to customers. A committee is
appointed to study the situation, as at present there are more stations
than the country can afford.
“A specialized team of engineers is working on this matter to provide
a solution,” he said.
Though there is no room for another mobile service provider the TRCSL
will take measures to introduce a player to the market in the event the
present mobile industrialists fail to increase broadband penetration in
the country.
The TRCSL’s aim is to increase penetration in urban and rural areas,
as there is low penetration currently.
The TRCSL is concerned about the broadband speed provided by
operators and to ascertain the speed subscribers will have the
opportunity of speed testing utility from their own network shortly.
It is in the process of carrying out the initial work on the
formulation of a national policy on broadband to enable an effective
service, Palpita said.
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