TRC of Sri Lanka to Allow Spectrum sharing & Domestic Roaming for Lower Broadband Tariffs

28th March 2013, www.lankabusinessonline.com

Sri Lanka is allowing spectrum sharing and domestic roaming to promote shared resources and cut costs so that broadband tariffs can be kept low, the telecom regulator said.

"We are allowing spectrum sharing," director general of the telecommunications regulatory commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) Anusha Pelpita said.

"We will not regulate their tariffs but they will have to apply to us. This will help keep costs down and subscribers will get lower tariffs."

Domestic roaming has already been recently permitted and Airtel and Etisalat have started to allow customers to roam on each others' network, he said.

Dialog on Thursday paid 3.2 billion rupees for a 10MegaHertz paired frequencies block in the 1800MHz band paying 2.0 billion rupees higher than the next bidder, in an auction which had a floor price of 3.2 billion rupees.

Pelpita said the frequencies are expected to be used in the rollout of fourth generation LTE (long term evolution) high speed mobile broadband services.

The 1800 spectrum was allocated for GSM (2G) services by the International Telecommunications Unions, but can be used for 4G.

The 75MHz of paired bandwidth in the frequency band (or 150MHz in the band which runs from 1700 through 1800 MHz has now been allocated to operators.

Dialog Already had a 15MHz block, Mobitel had 20, Etisalat, Hutch and Airtel each had 7.5MHz each and another 7.5MHz allocated to a firm which did not have a network was in court.

Except for the 7.5MHz which was in dispute the entire band has now been allocated to operators, he said.

"Spectrum sharing will allow more efficient use of the resource," Pelpita said.

Operators can set their own prices, but those planning to share spectrum must first apply to the Telecom Regulatory Commission, he said.

In Sri Lanka the 900MHz band, which is used for mobile broadband elsewhere is occupied by television broadcasters, but the band may become free after digital broadcasting starts Pelpita said.

Unlike other countries which raised billions of dollars Sri Lanka has a policy of keeping frequency fees relatively low.

Pelpita said he wanted to promote broadband use and in Sri Lanka fixed broadband penetration was low, though mobile was picking up.

"We have allowed frequency sharing because that will also keep costs down, so that retail tariffs will be more affordable," he said.

"Domestic roaming will also reduce costs as operators can save on network expenditure."

Sri Lanka Telecom, which had been licensed to build the national telecom backbone, has to allow other operators to use the pipes on regulated tariffs.

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Bharti Airtel Unveils Its New Global Identity in Sri Lanka. First Indian Brand to Go Truly Global

29th Novmber 2010, www.dailymirror.lk

Bharti airtel Lanka, a subsidiary of Bharti airtel, a leading global telecommunications company with operations in 19 countries across Asia and Africa, today unveiled its new global identity in Sri Lanka, following the successful international campaign that commenced in India recently.

The youthful expression of airtel's new identity provides refreshing vitality to global audiences across 2 continents and over 200 million customers. In Sri Lanka, by re-inventing itself in line with the international brand, airtel continues to pioneer quality and reliability of service, breakthrough innovations and unparalleled affordability. Today airtel has emerged as Sri Lanka's fastest growing mobile service provider, delivering an islandwide network in less than 2 years since launch.

Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman and Managing Director, Bharti airtel, said "As we race to meet the emerging needs of customers, the unification of our new brand identity across Asia and Africa will enable us to optimize the benefits of a shared worldwide network. Additionally, the new brand identity also gives us the opportunity to present a single, powerful and unified face to our customers, stakeholders and partners around the world.

I believe that this combined scale of efficiencies will support our goal of bringing customers closer to what they truly love in terms of access, device or content".

Amali Nanayakkara, CEO & MD, Bharti airtel Lanka, said "Beyond its positioning as the fastest expanding network in the country, the new international stature of airtel provides unique opportunity to experience a truly global network in Sri Lanka. Coupled together with an unmatchable combination of dynamism, youthful vigour and a pioneering spirit that has already captured the imagination of millions world over, airtel is poised to win the hearts of all Sri Lankans and contribute to its vibrant journey of emerging as one of the most admired brands of the continent".

The new face of airtel is youthful, international, inclusive and dynamic - representing the journey of the first Indian brand to go truly global. The new identity underlines airtel's willingness to embrace everything that is new. The red colour, which is an integral part of the brand, continues to represent the energy and dynamism that has made airtel the success it is today. The new curved addition to the logo is a symbol which will help ensure instant recognition across diverse international markets.

The airtel signature tune has also been refreshed by A R Rahman making it youthful and dynamic in line with the new visual identity. Like the earlier tune, which has made history as world's most downloaded mobile music with over 150 million downloads, the maestro has once again delivered a master piece. The new tune retains the essence of the original but uses an inspiring musical style, with a universal appeal, that will be loved by listeners the world over.

Bharti airtel Limited is a leading global telecommunications company with operations in 19 countries across Asia and Africa. The company offers mobile voice & data services, fixed line, high speed broadband, IPTV, DTH, turnkey telecom solutions for enterprises and national & international long distance services to carriers. Bharti airtel has been ranked among the six best performing technology companies in the world by BusinessWeek. Bharti airtel had 200 million customers across its operations.

Bharti Airtel Lanka (Pvt) Ltd commenced commercial operations of services on January 12, 2009, and now has an aggregate of over 1 million customers. Granted a license in 2007, in accordance with the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act No. 25 of 1991, it is also a registered company under the Board of Investment in Sri Lanka. Under the license, the company provides digital mobile services to Sri Lanka inclusive of voice telephony, voice mail, data services and GSM based services. All of these services are provided under the Airtel brand.