Q: Could you provide an overview of the Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) group?

A: Having been in operation for 162 years, SLT is built on a sound business model with majority direct ownership by the Sri Lankan government. Our clear governance structure guides business objectives. Moreover, the team consists of talented individuals.

These aspects, together with harnessing the latest technology, have enabled us to be a successful entity with a high national economic contribution while serving a customer base of over 12.5 million.


Q: What are SLT’s major milestones in the recent past?

A: We offer services through ground, sea and air connectivity. Our ground services include a state-of-the-art National Data Centre and copper cable network. SLT began upgrading to a fibreoptic network in 2015, thereby connecting homes, schools, government offices and private enterprises.

Our goal is to offer high-speed broadband access to the nation. As a first step, we are working towards bringing 4G connectivity to at least 92 percent of the population by December.

SLT also provides connectivity at sea through South East Asia-Middle East-Western Europe (SEA-ME-WE) optical fibre submarine communications cable systems: SMW3 (1999), SMW4 (2006) and SMW5 (2016) along with the upcoming SMW6.

Connectivity to the Maldives is achieved through the Dhiraagu-SLT submarine cable system while India is connected through SLT and Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) launching the Bharat Lanka submarine cable system.

Furthermore, the Galle Submarine Cable Depot and Matara double landing station are landmark technological achievements in Sri Lanka.

Our mobile and wireless infrastructure provides services through the air. It includes
SLT 2G, 3G, 4G and 4.5G technologies, and SLT satellite connectivity amongst other facilities. SLT successfully field-tested pre-5G LTE technology in 2017.

SLT’s continuous investment in upgrading infrastructure and technology involves high capex. This is augmented by the substantial investment in human resources. Accordingly, the group garners a high revenue and EBITDA as well.

Q: How would you describe the National Digital Roadmap (NDR)?

A: Our latest initiative towards digitisation and smart city living is shaped by human influence. With a population of over 21 million, of which 65 percent accounts for our customer base, the needs of customers are limitless. Our staff teams’ limitless talents and commitment enable us to serve the nation.

These gave rise to the theme of our digitisation journey ‘Limitless You,’ which captures the limitless needs, talents and strengths of stakeholders who are vital to establishing a smart Sri Lanka.

NDR is a large-scale ICT infrastructure development project implemented under the pillars of Smart Security, Smart Government, Smart Health, Smart Building, Smart Utilities, Smart Environment, Smart Transportation & Mobility, Smart Agriculture, Smart Money, Smart Education, Smart Workforce and Smart Infrastructure. Projects are planned under each sector to empower lives with cutting-edge digital solutions to further the government’s smart initiatives and transform the industrial landscape to build a smart city.

Smart Education includes initially connecting over 10,500 schools across Sri Lanka to the national learning network and internet with a secure firewall that is Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) compliant. Also, through Smart Government, of the 3,500 identified government institutions, 850 are digitally connected to the Lanka Government Network 2.0 in Phase 1.

Q: What will be the game changer in the telecommunications industry?

A: The advent of 5G in Sri Lanka’s telecom industry is set to be the largest disruptor. Indeed, the promise of 5G technology is such that it isn’t merely an upgrade or evolution from the existing 4G technology.

This technology is the new infrastructure of a super-connected and super-intelligent future world, and comprises machine learning and AI technology, which are new concepts.

We expect 5G to transform lives, and be a platform for unifying enhanced mobile broadband, mission critical services and IoT. Moreover, experts anticipate the new technologies of 5G to drive future proof innovation through the convergence of spectrum types and bands, diverse services and deployments.

Q: And what are the other opportunities presented by 5G?

A: The fivefold values of 5G are the user experience, efficiency, reliability, intelligence and connectivity. Their corresponding promises are ultra-high-speed and low latency; infrastructure that
is energy and cost-efficient; a reliable and secure operation; analytics based flexible and intelligent networks; and seamless ‘4A’ connectivity that is anytime, anywhere, for anything and anyone, through extreme capacity and ultra-high density.

Foreseeing the country’s future digital landscape, SLT aims to prepare Sri Lanka to embrace the next wave of technology through initiatives such as the NDR, which contributes towards the government’s mission of a ‘Smart Sri Lanka.’