Mobitel signs BOI agreement
LTE capable network expansion project:
Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel, the National Mobile Telecom Service
Provider, has signed a BOI agreement to trial and deploy a LTE (Long
Term Evolution) Network for the first time in Sri Lanka. This will be
part of the company's network expansion project and will enable Mobitel
to import/purchase (locally) project-related items free of customs duty.
Mobitel has committed an investment of approximately US $ 60 mn in
its latest network expansion, adding 1000 LTE capable radio base
stations to the existing network infrastructure. With this, the
company's Investments committed to date in its LTE/3.5G/2.5G networks
and service offerings amount to over US $ 400 mn.
"Technology change is a key determinant of a country's economic
growth and therefore the introduction of LTE Network is expected to
drive growth in the telecommunication sector as well as improve
competitiveness and growth in several other economic sectors heavily
depended on infocom," said BOI Chairman Jayampathi Bandaranayake. "We
are happy to support Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel in its endeavour to
provide the latest ICT technologies which is sure to catalyze national
development," he said.
LTE is the latest standard in the mobile network technology evolution
after GSM and EDGE and 3.5G and HSPA network technologies, and Mobitel
is gearing towards demonstrating broadband speeds nearing 100Mbps in
downlink and 50Mbps in uplink, using this LTE technology when the
spectrum is available.
Telecommunications Director General Anusha Palpita said, "TRCSL is
committed to assist all the telecommunication operators in Sri Lanka to
develop world class telecommunication network facilities in the country.
The spectrum allocation for the commercial operation of LTE will soon be
finalized where the operators will be able to launch nationwide enhanced
ICT infrastructure to benefit all businesses and consumers in Sri Lanka
through this latest evolution in mobile broadband technology."
Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel Chairman Nimal Welgama said, "Harnessing
the power of ICT to its fullest potential will be the key in realizing
hyper exponential pace of growth which is needed to build our nation and
to do so rapidly. This requires next generation ICT available and
affordable to the citizens of our country which will help eventually
realize the President's vision of elevating the e-literacy rate in Sri
Lanka.
In this regard, this investment on the latest LTE infrastructure will
be a significant step towards driving unparalleled growth to propel our
country forward."
ZTE corporation of China was selected by Mobitel as its technology
partner to deploy this state-of-the-art LTE ready
Next-Generation-Network. |