Construction to Start on 350metre $103mn Lotus Tower in February. Seven Level Colombo TV Tower Project by TRCSL

05th January 2011, www.dailynews.lk, 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.