HUAWEI

STRENGTH IN UNITY, SUCCESS IN SPEED: HOW AIRTEL AND DIALOG CAME TOGETHER IN 100 SUCCESSFUL DAYS

“Longstanding ties between Huawei, and Dialog and Airtel, enabled the company to contribute effectively to integrating their core network infrastructures”

Sri Lanka’s telecom sector has experienced substantial growth over the past two decades, evolving into a dynamic and competitive market. However, recent economic challenges – including currency depreciation, inflation and shifting consumer spending patterns – have presented new hurdles.

In response, telecommunication companies are re-calibrating their strategies by optimising infrastructure, enhancing service affordability and pursuing mergers to ensure long-term sustainability.

A notable development is the merger between Dialog Axiata and Airtel Lanka, a strategic initiative supported by Huawei Technologies. This collaboration aims to strengthen their collective capacity to address the demands of a rapidly changing market.

Huawei’s strategic role and expertise in network integration

Longstanding ties between Huawei, and Dialog and Airtel, enabled the company to contribute effectively to integrating their core network infrastructures. With two decades of experience in network expansion, technological innovation and managed services, Huawei Technologies was well equipped to address the complexities of the Dialog-Airtel merger.

Leveraging its global expertise in similar projects, Huawei supported the optimisation of network infrastructure, ensuring the smooth and efficient consolidation of the two companies’ systems. Through this collaboration, Huawei played a pivotal role in helping Dialog and Airtel achieve a unified network.

Before the Dialog-Airtel merger, both companies operated separate network infrastructures, each presenting its own challenges and opportunities. As the merger progressed, it became evident that successful integration would require not only technical expertise but also strategic foresight and meticulous coordination.

Visionary leadership and collaborative engineering

Dialog Group Chief Technology Officer Ranga Kariyawasam states that planning for the merger had begun in earnest last year with Dialog’s in-house engineers and Huawei’s experts collaborating to design the combined network architecture. He highlights that the thorough planning and strong commitment from both parties made it possible to complete the merger within 100 days.

Elaborating on the process, Huawei Technologies Lanka Chief Technology Officer Li Xiang (Tony) says: “It was a long and detailed process where our in-house experts worked closely with Dialog to fully understand the complexities involved in merging two mobile networks. We carefully evaluated all available options and reached the most suitable solution design. We supported Dialog by leveraging our global expertise and resources, with specialists from around the world working alongside our team to finalise the blueprint for the merged network.”

Li Xiang adds that the real work commenced once the solution was finalised. Dialog’s and Huawei’s engineering teams collaborated to implement the necessary changes, starting with the core network and IP transport domains. As part of the preparations, Dialog’s cell site capacity was upgraded to handle the expected increase in traffic from Airtel subscribers.

Tony emphasises that all this was achieved within tight deadlines. He notes that when Dialog and Airtel received the final approval to merge the networks, Huawei had already completed the necessary preparations on the network side.

A significant challenge during the merger was enabling Airtel subscribers to access Dialog’s cell sites. Due to configurations on mobile handsets, Airtel users typically could not connect to Dialog’s network. While completing the cell site integration, Huawei developed a comprehensive process to adjust these configurations across Airtel’s entire network, ensuring seamless connectivity for users.

“The merger was executed across all Dialog and Airtel cell sites in Sri Lanka within just 100 days. This included upgrading site capacities, re-homing selected Airtel sites to the Dialog network and redeploying equipment from redundant Airtel sites. The implementation was carried out in a cluster-wise approach, starting in the south, followed by the east, north and finally west. Both Dialog and Huawei engineers worked in perfect symphony, executing operations smoothly to ensure the success of the merger,” he explains.

Tony acknowledges that the merger’s efficiency was a result of meticulous planning, technical expertise, and teamwork between the Dialog and Huawei teams. He highlights that this collaboration has set the foundation for a unified and optimised network, ultimately benefitting Sri Lankan consumers.

Technical backbone of the merger

Integrating two networks is a complex undertaking that demands meticulous planning and collaboration. Director of Solutions at Huawei Technologies Lanka Chathura Kumarasinghe highlights the team’s dedicated efforts in establishing reliable IP transport links, optimising the radio network and relocating key Airtel sites.

The primary goal was to minimise disruptions for Airtel users during the transition, a feat accomplished by leveraging Dialog’s existing core infrastructure. This process involved modifying radio frequencies and fine-tuning spectrum usage to support the expanded customer base effectively.

“As a telecommunications professional specialising in network solution design, it was a privilege to contribute to the team working on the merger between Dialog and Airtel. Our objective was clear – to create a unified network architecture that integrates both networks while ensuring uninterrupted service for millions of subscribers,” Kumarasinghe states.

He explains that the team began by analysing the existing architecture of both operators and designing a solution to ensure interoperability: “The phased transition to a unified core network posed the challenge of maintaining continuous service for both Airtel and Dialog customers. This included migrating core network functions such as voice, data and VAS (value added services).”

Kumarasinghe emphasises that establishing efficient and reliable connectivity between Dialog’s and Airtel’s core networks was pivotal to the integration. The team worked closely with the IP transport network division to implement high capacity interconnections.

Overcoming logistical challenges was another critical aspect of the roll out. The project required precise coordination of resources, particularly for delivering equipment to remote and hard to reach areas. The team adeptly managed a complex supply chain, ensuring the timely delivery of essential components despite potential delays caused by geographical and infrastructure limitations.

Overcoming logistical challenges in network roll out

Project Director at Huawei Technologies Lanka Nadesan Thipagaran led the team through one of the most challenging yet rewarding phases of the telecom roll out in Sri Lanka. Overcoming significant logistical obstacles, the project involved sourcing, managing and distributing essential network components to remote corners of the island.

To meet this demand, Huawei mobilised one of the largest field teams in Sri Lanka’s telecom history, ensuring that the network upgrades were completed on schedule and without disruption.

A key focus during this phase was executing region-wise cut overs, which allowed Airtel’s subscribers to transition seamlessly in stages while maintaining service continuity.

Huawei’s advanced warehouse management system played a central role in this operation, meticulously coordinating logistics from the procurement of materials to their timely delivery and deployment across various cell sites.

“Leading the Dialog-Airtel network merger project was both a privilege and significant responsibility. I was tasked with overseeing crucial capacity upgrades across Sri Lanka under tight deadlines, requiring detailed planning and coordination among teams to ensure network enhancements were completed without service disruption,” Thipagaran says.

He explains that from upgrading cell sites to integrating Airtel’s infrastructure and removing legacy equipment, every aspect was carefully managed.

Thipagaran adds: “The challenges, particularly in remote areas, demanded real-time communication and adaptability but together, we turned obstacles into opportunities, delivering a project that supports Sri Lanka’s telecom future.”

He also highlights the importance of managing the sourcing and return of network materials. This process required coordination with multiple warehousing facilities to ensure the timely delivery of essential components as well as overseeing the return of decommissioned equipment from Airtel sites.

This was crucial for maintaining a smooth flow of materials, reducing downtime and ensuring that field teams had the resources they needed to stay on schedule, he stresses.

Commenting on the final stage of the merger, which involved executing region-wise cut overs to transition Airtel subscribers to the Dialog network, Thipagaran says: “Each cut over was a complex, well coordinated operation, carefully planned to be completed overnight to minimise customer impact.”

He played a key role in overseeing these transitions, ensuring that technical teams, field staff and support personnel worked in sync to complete the task efficiently. The success of the cut overs, he notes, depended on precise timing, detailed planning and strong collaboration across teams to ensure that Airtel subscribers experienced a smooth transition to the Dialog network by morning.

“Huawei’s success in Sri Lanka was driven by a strong team effort, combining the expertise of both local and global talent”

Network integration

Director Consulting and System Integration at Huawei Technologies Lanka Dai Changhong (Vincent) reflects on the complexities of the Dialog-Airtel network merger, noting the extensive coordination across multiple regions that contributed to its success.

“Being deeply involved in the merger, I oversaw the region-wise network upgrades and cut overs, ensuring the integration of Airtel’s infrastructure into Dialog’s network. This required a deep understanding of both networks, detailed planning and precise execution to maintain service quality throughout the process,” he says.

Vincent explains that a major responsibility was preparing region specific execution plans for the merger cut overs. This involved assessing the upgrade needs for each region and managing the schedule for removing equipment from redundant Airtel sites. He emphasises the importance of completing all upgrades before the cut overs to avoid delays.

“A key focus during the merger was ensuring that the re-homed Airtel sites performed as expected with no performance issues,” he adds. Vincent led efforts to monitor and validate the performance of each site post-cut over, paying close attention to site alarms.

He also notes the work done to ensure a smooth transition for Airtel subscribers with a strong emphasis on maintaining service quality. “We optimised the radio network infrastructure to improve handover performance, service accessibility and coverage, ensuring a continuous experience for subscribers during the transition. This included enhancing coverage and data speeds, and preventing performance degradation,” Vincent elaborates.

During the cut over night, the Huawei network performance team worked diligently to fine-tune wireless configurations, ensuring that subscribers could continue using services without disruption,” he says.

“The primary goal was to minimise disruptions for Airtel users during the transition, a feat accomplished by leveraging Dialog’s existing core infrastructure”

A team effort supported by local and global talent

Huawei’s success in Sri Lanka was driven by a strong team effort, combining the expertise of both local and global talent. Vice President of Huawei Technologies Lanka Zhu Haojin (Kevin) emphasises how crucial it was to integrate local knowledge with global resources to ensure the smooth execution of projects. He notes that this collaboration not only facilitated timely delivery but also helped nurture Sri Lanka’s telecom workforce.

Kevin explains: “Huawei’s approach in Sri Lanka highlighted the value of blending local knowledge with global expertise. Working closely with local teams was essential to navigating the challenges within the local ecosystem. By building partnerships and providing training, Huawei supported local talent in managing concurrent site activities, ensuring the smooth execution of projects.”

“This collaborative effort not only helped deliver results on time but also contributed to the growth of Sri Lanka’s telecom workforce with local professionals taking on key roles in the process. It’s a reflection of how collective effort, both local and global, can make a meaningful impact,” he continues.

He also shares that a main challenge in Sri Lanka’s telecom sector is the limited partner ecosystem, which led to struggles in managing a high volume of concurrent site activities. To address this, Huawei took the initiative to engage local service partners, focussing on upskilling and expanding the local workforce.

By developing local talent, the company was able to scale up operations quickly and execute the merger efficiently. Kevin explains that “alongside managing the scaling of operations, we introduced and implemented best practices in warehouse management during the network merger at Dialog.”

He continues: “By utilising Huawei’s advanced warehouse management software, we were able to streamline all logistics and inventory processes, which supported the broader integration goals. We closely supervised warehouse operations to ensure the smooth flow of resources, making sure that site activations were completed on time and minimising potential delays.”

A showcase of lasting collaboration

The successful completion of the network merger underscores the enduring value of Huawei’s two decade long partnership with Dialog. Account Director at Huawei Technologies Lanka Mohamed Rifky says that this joint effort not only solidified Dialog’s leadership in Sri Lanka’s telecom market but also set a new benchmark for resilient and high impact infrastructure projects in the region.

The merger serves as a prime example of how long-term partnerships built on mutual trust and shared goals lead to transformative outcomes in the telecommunications sector.

“The execution of the mobile network merger between Dialog and Airtel reflects the dedication of experts from both Dialog and Huawei teams. Over the course of more than a year and a half, professionals from various fields united to integrate two major networks in Sri Lanka. This was a true team effort, demonstrating what can be achieved when expertise and collaboration align with a shared purpose,” Rifky adds.

He further notes that this project represents another milestone in Huawei and Dialog’s longstanding relationship, which has been marked by consistent collaboration in advancing Sri Lanka’s telecom sector. Huawei’s ongoing support for Dialog’s vision of innovation and excellence is reflected in the successful completion of this merger, which further strengthens their bond.

Rifky also acknowledges Huawei’s strong partnership with Airtel Lanka, where the company provided telecom equipment, built network infrastructure and managed operations. He emphasises that the trust and collaboration with both Airtel and Dialog were crucial to the merger’s success.

“I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the Dialog team for their unwavering support throughout the merger. Their dedication, professionalism and willingness to go the extra mile were key to navigating the complexities of this project,” he claims.

He adds: “I also want to thank Dialog’s senior management for entrusting Huawei with the delivery of this landmark project. The responsibility and trust placed in us was deeply appreciated, and we are proud to have contributed to such a significant achievement in Sri Lanka’s telecommunications sector.”

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