Telecom major Bharti Airtel today said the company hopes to start operations in Sri Lanka within this calendar year, despite the delay in getting interconnection from the local operators there.
“Discussions are going on with the Sri Lankan telecom regulator and the existing operators there relating to the interconnection issue. It should be sorted out shortly,” company’s CEO Manoj Kohli told reporters here.
“We should be in a position to start our operations there before 2008. It is as per our schedule,” he said.
Earlier a Senior Executive of Bharti Airtel, Sanjay Kapoor said the incumbent operators in Lanka are not giving interconnections to the company, which is anticompetitive in nature.
Responding to that four Sri Lankan operators had issued a joint statement yesterday terming Bharti’s allegations as false.
The four operators – Dialog, Hutch, Mobitel and Tigo lashed out at Bharti Airtel on being accused that they are preventing the company’s entry into the island by not providing interconnection on the same terms.
Source: Press Trust of India
476 Comments
Infaas
Sri lankan,
Good news, dialog tigo hutch & mobitel BEWARE!, sri lankan market is waiting for airtel,, probably more than 50% mobile users will switch networks, because everyone i meet and talk about (SUBJECT-Airtel) is willing to make the switch, A common belief is that the call charges will be VERY Attractive…
Even bringing the iphone 3g to sri lanka will be a good move_ but must not do the same mistake in pricing as in india which was a mega flop,, theres an average crowd that is wiling to pay LKR.20,000 – 30,000 to buy a phone(namely nokia n sonyericcson ) so i believe iphone will be a great hit here.. who knows wet will happen!…
palitha kumar
I think you should come to our market very soon bcs other giants are earning big margin from the industry customer are realy frustrated their services,
Nadeera
Why Airlel, why are you dragging so long?
What happened to your September launch?
We have observed that recently Airtel came up with an excuse saying that the other operators are not giving interconnection which is completely false when we consider the current interconnection status of sri lanka. just for information, the Interconnection rules gazetted by TRCSL in 2003 clearly states and it governs the telecommunication industry of sri lanka. Accordingly, if any operator refuses to interconnect with a new operator or ignore the gazetted regulations, there is a stated legal procedure which that new entrant can take actions against them. So why Airtel blame existing operators not giving interconnections and anti competitive nature. This is completely misleading the market by diverting the inefficiencies of their management towards the competitors. And they are trying to hide the actual reasons for their slow start by giving various excuses. Why Airtel doesn’t go to courts and take legal actions against if that is the case. because that is not the reality.
If we look at the current interconnection status among operators, all the Mobile operators (Dialog, Mobitel, Tigo and Hutch) have implemented interconnection rates as mentioned in the gazette of 2003. They pay each other for mobile call termination. Addition to that, the new fixed line operators (Eg:Dialog CDMA) who came into market after year 2003 had to agree for those interconnection rates. Currently there is an ongoing process of TRCSL of implementing interconnection amongst all operators. Therefore i am not sure about what Airtel is talking about by saying ‘not giving interconnection’.
I think they had to postpone their launch so many months because of inefficient operations, and as they couldn’t predict the market behaviour of sri lanka which is very much different compared to india. Airtel wanted to start operations in sri lanka with Rs.2 per minute. But we have experienced that currently there are so many revolutionary packages in sri lankan market which give voice and video calls for less than 25cents per minute. And the current market penetration is over 60%, so that Sri lanka really doesnt need any other operator. So, do we really need Airtel?
Mansoorseusl
all we are in sri lanka waiting for your operation, in sri lanka soon, but you are always change your schedule to launch.
we are realy frustrated the services of mobail telecominication remaining in sri lanka,
Afzal
GUD,
can you give the call chargers please.
outgoing call charges
incoming call charges
bill information also,
thanx
Amila Prasad
Come Airtell
We are waitting…….
Good number for me….. Pls……
subodha
better to start a website sooner.
vijendran
AIRTELL on of the best conection.
we are like to join .
i hope we have a jobs.
Sanjeewa R. Abeydheera
when r u going to launch airtel in sri lanka
Suhith
if i phone with airtel in sri lanka what will be the cost? Same as US (200$)?
Nadeera
Airtel will definitely be yet another unsuccessful indian investment as did most of other indian investments. One best example is Hutch, which is a big operator of india but a complete failure here is sri lanka who couldn’t achieve at least 5% of the market. On the other hand the two malasian investments have successfully acquired more 80% of the sri lankan mobile teleco market as Mobitel & Dialog.
The investment done by Airtel in sri lanka is extremely not enough to cater current sri lankan teleco context. Best example is Airtel is going to start their operations here only with 150 base stations where as Dialog has 2000+ base stations and Mobitel has 1500+ base stations with island wide coverage. No doubt that 90% of sri lankan population is already covered except for north and eastern provinces. It will take ages to Airtel to match that coverage which Dialog, Mobitel and Tigo are offering. Definitely Airtel will be another Hutch if they continue this kind of stingy investments and snail operations.
Airtel, please be gentle enough not to blame current operators who have done very hard work to bring the telecommunication industry to a great position in the region over last two decades. Full credit should go to Celltel, Mobitel & Dialog who set the standards to entire region. Those indian investors are just trying to harvest our well grown market.
Rohan Samarajiva
Comment is free, but facts are sacred.
It has been some time since Hutch sold its Indian interests to Vodaphone, so it’s incorrect to say Hutch is in India. Also highly incorrect to say Hutch in LK is a failure. Their EBITDA margins a few quarters ago were in excess of 50% and my understanding is that they have around 15% market share.
Nadeera
Hutch who invested in sri lanka in early 90s with an indian base.
Their EBITDA margins can be around 50% as it is a common feature of all teleco operators of sri lanka.
but what about their market share?
Let’s assume it is 15%. Then Tigo should be at least 20% and Mobitel with over 2million customers should be about 25%. Dialog is somewhere around 50%. Now let’s get the sum: 15+20+25+50=110 ????
Definitely 15% is a very big over estimate of their customer base. They did a miscalculation of their base in last year. Therefore the base is for sure less than 10%. When there are only four players in the market, this amount is extremely not enough to do any impact on the market.
Facts are sacred of course, correct me if i’m wrong.
Nalaka
“Airtel use’s Singtel expertise for 3G services roll out in Sri Lanka”. http://airtelsrilanka.blogspot.com/
I think Sri Lanka will serve as a test bed for Airtel.
Airtel doesn’t have any 3G network in India. They can offer similar services in India when 3G spectrum is made available there.
Rohan Samarajiva
Here’s what our research shows
2007: Dialog 53%; Mobitel 18%; Tigo 15%; Hutch 14%
2006: Dialog 57%; Mobitel 17%; Hutch 16%; Tigo 10%
So my 15% was right in the middle. Because the TRC does not report market shares, this is based on researcher estimates and +/- 1% error has to be allowed.
50% (actually 52.5%) EBITDA margin is considerably higher than what Dialog has achieved. See: http://lirneasia.net/2008/03/pure-bop-play-in-sri-lanka-increases-ebitda-by-525/
Hutch is basically a Hong Kong company. You made a mistake by portraying it as Indian. Search on google if you don’t trust me. Move on. People make mistakes. Not the end of the world.
NoAirTel
All Indian investments done in Sri Lanka I say did not benifit Sri Lankan economy in anyway. Take the best example IOC, the stupid politicians said those days by allowing the second player to come Sri Lanka will give fuel at a competitive price to consumers. Did that happen??? While Ceypetco is making heavy loses this IOC is making good profits and taking our hard earned money to India. I heard some months ago the profit margin for a litre of petrol for IOC was higher than Rs. 10 while Ceypetco making losses. For Ceypetco loses they must be blamed too (The Ceypetco). The CEO or the MD of Sri Lankan operations of IOC said in a newspaper even if they make loses here, they will not leave Sri Lanka as they have other interests in Sri Lanka. That merely explains the rational behind Indian investments here.
There is a lot of other inidian businesses came to Sri Lanka under FTA between SL and India and those do not benifit SL in anyway. Example Wanspathi oil factories.
The Airtel invasion will also be the same and they will harvest our hard earned money.
The Sri Lankan mobile phone market is indeed still at a premature state as compared to some Europian countries. I think for Sri Lanka allowing number portability will improve the mobile market as it might increases the competitiveness in the market.
Near future our stupid politicians will allow Indians to come and work here. And when that day comes we will have to hunt for Indians.
Rohan Samarajiva
What is this xenophobic rubbish? The people of Sri Lanka have benefitted from foreign investment. If not for FDI in telecom, we’d still be going behind politicians and SLT flunkies looking for loops.
Lanka IOC was asked to come to this country to take over the oil tanks in Trinco by the then government. The reform was not completed, but at least today the conditions of most petrol stations has considerably improved thanks to the presence of Lanka IOC. Most of what you pay for petrol goes to the country that produces the oil. If you pay to CPC it goes to feed its incompetence and corruption. I am sure Lanka IOC has far fewer employees than the local monster.
If the reference about Indians coming to work here is to CEPA, it’s wrong. CEPA creates a framework for mutual recognition agreements wherein professional qualifications on both sides will be mutually recognized over time. If Indian professionals come here they will come as part of investments under Mode 3 trade. This is already the case under BOI.
It is common for xenophobes to be also irrational. This is demonstrated by asking for mobile number portability while attacking Bharti Airtel. Bharti will be the greatest beneficiary of MNP, unless the other operators look after their customers better.
Nadeera
Cosidering the growth of Mobitel & Tigo and the loss of market share of Dialog and Hutch this is my prediction for 2008 (as at today). This includes the recent popularity of packages introduced by Mobitel and the popularity of Tigo with their strong branding & per second billing. Dialog and Hutch as they did over recent years, still loosing the market share.
2008: Dialog 47%; Mobitel 25%; Tigo 18%; Hutch 10%
2007: Dialog 53%; Mobitel 18%; Tigo 15%; Hutch 14%
2006: Dialog 57%; Mobitel 17%; Hutch 16%; Tigo 10%
And please don’t forget Hutch over stated base in 2007 by a mistake which they accepted and corrected recently.
Considering the EBITDA margins Tigo operates well over 50% according to their performance report for Q2 2008. Dialog EBITDA margin for 2007 was more than 47%. And please don’t forget we are at end of 2008, where the industry has changed a lot in the ended 9 months of 2008, compared to end of 2007.
palitha kumar
Certain telecom indtriest are feeling tele-phobia of launching their market in Sri Lanka, they alreay favour for 200 million investment here whatever we will benifit them, market sharing will benifit people, Bairtel is giant in India i am sure they will start at smart like Dialogue,
dilan
hello to all,
best thing for all. we hope that airtel will give that. my confidence is that.i can work with your company as a call center officer. i have worked in abans in srilanka head office for last one one year. i think you will start your job as soon as posibal.
all the best for airtel & officers are working in srilanka.
narada priyankara
sunshine & laughter remind me of u air tel…when Ur not come it`s nothing…….when Ur give hope….it is something….when Ur give air tel……..it is everything……come on…
dayani
i need the airtel email or website address in srilanka
Sanjeewa Nishantha
Please send me airtel lanka (pvt) ltd email number.
Sanjeewa Nishantha
Please send me airtel lanka (pvt) ltd email account.
Akila
Air tel – I’m afraid
Mobitel Got his Target with Government sector.
Launch good package for goverment sector cheaper than Mobitel.
Akila
Mobitel Now on 65% in sri Lanka
SHA
MOBITEL is the fastest growing Network in Sri lanka. Now all then Sri lankans shit to Mobitel. Airtel is Totally Suck!!!!!!!!!
christy
air tel is good on srilanka. i want to wokr in this company. please send to me how i get to apply airtel. now send to me in my email adress.
hassan
air tell is good.
Sanjay
When will u launch in Srilanka. We are waiting.
Sameera
Wait forever………Airtel will never be able to launch in Sri lanka.
All the people who try to forward their CVs to Airtel via this blog, please don’t display your stupidity as that itself is a unprofessional behavior. If you really wish to join a company and to start your career, first go and learn the basics rather than trying to bully around this topic. One more point, Airtel is a company which use outsourcing very much. They will not employees compared to other operators. I rather doubt whether Outsourcing is the best mechanism to implement in sri lanka.
vivek
i hope u will statrt verry soon and make new sri lanka telicommnication service all ways well come
HIJAZY
hi Airtel,
i would like to hear airtel tone in srilanka. so please try to connect quickly.
Bye!
HIJAZY
Hi Airtel!
can u please display the call rates?
BYE!
Thusitha
Airtel! How Can we trust your service @ Sri Lanka. More sri lanken are waitng for you. How long will you take to start operation in Sri Lanka. Even we cant find website yet.
buddikamarapana
i am very happy about Airtel,come soon.good luck Airtel.
i hate Dialog
Nazir ANM
when will start airtel service in srilanka,ok
Asmeer MAM
we are expecting for airtel service
Iranga
Hellow AirTell,
We are like to joing Air Tell Group.If your have any IT related job’s please let us know.
Your kind response would be highly appriciated.
Rgds,
Iranga
alan
hey air airtel when you gonna cover the srilankan people
please come soon, we are expecting you to wel come to srilanka
Regards
Alan
Isuru
How long will you take to start operation in Sri Lanka?
i hope we can get lot of jobs.
Nalaka
Dialog share price down to all time low!!
Sri Lanka’s telecom giant and once most profitable corporate Dialog Telekom’s share price yesterday slipped to its all time low of Rs. 7.75 including an intra-day lowest of Rs. 7.50.
I think the Sri Lankan telecom industry’s future is not that bright due to the current price war and the impending competition from the fifth operator Airtel. This has impacted Dialog’s margins,”
http://airtelsrilanka.blogspot.com/2008/10/dialog-share-price-down-to-all-time-low.html#links
subha
Try to do Something Than Mobitel,
Mobitel gives Conections Very frequently, they are stucked
shakir
hai
air tel
i am very happy to use ur net work soon
fazal
I want a job in Airtel
Rohan Samarajiva
Fazal: Do you really think this is the best way of applying for a job at Bharti Airtel?
Does it not cross anyone’s mind that Bharti HR people might be compiling a list of people NOT to hire, based on the inane comments posted on this website?
Shamhan
Hi Airtel,
All ways i am waiting 4 uuuuuuuuuuuuu
pls give the rate n airtel packages by e-mail
i like to use airtel n pls cover the all island if many n main place not coverage v don’t want 2 use. So pls do well
warmly welcomeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
best of luck
SRS presents
tharaka Sangeeth
Hi Airtel,
We Are Waiting 4 u So long.
Why r u Taking So Long.
Hope U Airtel Will Break the Telemarketing Mafia In Sri Lanka.
Wish U Guys All The Best.
Shalika
willing to join with Airtel
hgh
akila r u mad? 65% mobitel.. not possible???
NisPreen
Well well Its good to have a fifth GSM player in SL.People here expect a reduction of out going call rates in the country. But Dialog and mobitel and other two networks have brought their out going call rates down quite competitive in fact now its pointless talking about totally incoming free cos all of them do.
Just to comment about Dialog they were successful simply cos of their excellent customer service they grow expand increase quantity without compromising customer service and I personally believe that dialog has the the strength to compete/even to reduce call charges further if they have to.
Mobitel is totally ignorant of customer service Basically No quality They just increase the number.If airtel is going to establish they may have to think of better Customer service like dialog.
In fact Airtel may have to consider bringing down IDD call rates and make a plus point towards them.
NisPreen
Just for those who are warmly welcoming Airtel
The known devil is better than the unknown angel guys!
&*? Is Airtel going to be an unborn child of SriLankan Telecommunication sector Airtel come on guys step in launch it start the competition
sagara perera
Launch your web site before launch your company. then we will receive correct details about the company. most of people lying about airtel and collecting email addresses for the spamming. Don’t alow those bastards to use your good will for their cheap marketing systems. the are using your logo and everything.
thanks,
regards,
sagara perera.
bunty@lovers.lk
Jeromix
Lots of Roar… But No go!
Airtel is waiting for another Trump card. When Airtel planned their first launch, specualtion was that they would be playing on “coverage” and stories were that they were going to use satellite technology for coverage advantage, but I guess the current operators were smart enough to play on coverage as well. If one might remember Dialog was advertising on the Next town they will be covering. Mobitel said they covered this area and that are. Tigo was counting the number of Towers. So I beleive Airtel took a step back and delayed the launch.
Then when Airtel announced their September Launch The News was that they were to Play on “Price”. But bad timing once again. We see how the current players are playing on “price”. Mobitel Launched Upahara. Dialog master Blaster, Persecond and so many cheap plans. Tigo playing on Incoming free. Hutch is Cheap as Usual. So Airltel Bye Bye to Price.
So people We have to wait and See what Airtel’s Next Trump card is Going to be
B.P.D. Kumarathilake
Please send me information about airtel tariffs in sri Lanka
Thank You.
Kumarathilake
Amith
Why you are late?
Abdul rahuman
Awaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiting, curiosity on charges. But we expect the best soon
Airtel…. Welcome to the pearl of the indian ocean.
MUDS
i wonder what all the people who are welcoming/impatiently awaiting for/being insanely happy about airtel’s entry into SL, are thinking. maybe they want a package which has “zero rental+zero incoming+zero outgoing”.
the competition among dialog, mobitel and tigo has already provided us with a lot of cost reduction in the recent past, which has hardly left a space for airtel to maneuver.
whatever benefit that is to be gained in the monthly bill is going to vanish if we are to buy a new phone, if airtel uses a new technology. also, it’s very strange that the company has not even thought of putting up a website still, which might be due to the fact that they are not so keen on starting operations here!
so better try and work out what existing operator gives you the best package according to YOUR requirement, and stick with it! “the bird in hand is worth ten on the tree!”
Most_Wanted
i lov airtel.!!!!!
come fast to SL
Most_Wanted
and also waiting for ur all island coverage…..with 3g if possible…
its ok with 2g as well.
and ya…if u have 3g then we can use HSDPA for fast wireless internet broadband…which is lik 3.6Mbps!!!!!!!!!!
thats really FAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
so airtel!!!!! come soon!!!!!!!!!
Mohammed Bathoos.S.H
Please send me information about airtel tariffs in sri Lanka
and also waiting for ur all island coverage…..with 3g if possible…
its ok with 2g as well.
ishara
cccccccccoooooooo……ooooooooooo……….lllllllllllll
WELCOME
with low prices.
M.I. Mohammed Azmy
Mobitel –> Upahara.
Dialog –> master Blaster & Per second
airtel –> ?
Y are u Late?
Ple. Send your tariffs in sri Lanka
You are well come in Sri lanka
your AIRTEL SRI LANKA official web site ?????
MiM AzMy
dELtoTA
KaNdy
Nayanathara
Hey , still you are sleeping, dialog & mobitel going growing up there are going cover target, youuuuuuuuuuuuuuu what wrong with u ??????????? hurry up get ready ro come
Nayanathara
Anyway I want to get ur sri lankan web site pls, send me that soon
Most_Wanted
fast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
akalanka ediriweera
iam a sri lankan student,i have completed city&guilds Diploma in electronic engineering,im doing advance diploma,i love to work with air tell,this is my mobile no0719183926,im waiting for air tell
WellWisher
Come come come…. is the watchword I see here… So DO COME.. , but without political intervention and ministerial candidates! Let it be a pure technology competition and let consumers drive as a free market economy. We don’t want ministerial candidates promoting mobile technology when even simple issues cannot be solved by them!
Mohamed Razick Mohamed Rismy
please hurry up we are looking forward to your launch of Airtel!!! dialog and mobitel have aleady started giving some good faciities making it hard for new companies to compete, but i dont think it would much of a problem to you, and PLEASE give us a good internet connection, along with ur 3G also we expect that you will give us low rates which will be very convinient for us….
Best Regards
Mohamed Razick
Mohamed Rismy
No-108/3,
Mahawatta Madige Galagedara
Mobile= 0773-7255111
suneth
we waiting for it,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Huzaifah Adahan
Hi Airtel,
I want a job in Airtel!!
Wasantha
Dear Airtel,
Are there any problem to start ur services in SL?. we are waiting 2 get ur service.
pls show ur rates for outgoing calls and what are the things that u expect 2 provide for custermers
Mohamed Razick Mohamed Rismy
Mohamed Razick Mohamed Rismy
October 22, 2008 at 12:34 pm
please hurry up we are looking forward to your launch of Airtel!!! dialog and mobitel have aleady started giving some good faciities making it hard for new companies to compete, but i dont think it would much of a problem to you, and PLEASE give us a good internet connection, along with ur 3G also we expect that you will give us low rates which will be very convinient for us….
Best Regards
Mohamed Razick
Mohamed Rismy
No-108/3,
Mahawatta Madige Galagedara
Mobile= 0773-725511
Most_Wanted
airtel!!!!!!!!!!
SAIFUDEEN
Dear Sir
I am having a land in very good location for about 7 to 8 purchase near Port gate i.e. near De Saram Gate Muthuwella Mw Colombo 15.
hope you can allocate your communication Towers for coverage.
Please do not hesitate to contact me on 0714-165450 (Saifudeen)
B/Rgds
Saifudeen
Bimal
Hey Airtell,
We are a company that manufactures promotoinal items for the best price.
We are looking forward for the launch of Airtel in Sri Lanka.
If you can pls send us any contact info of AIRTEL we are very thankful.
Our email address: keygotrading@yahoo.com
Tel:+94772843127
Thanks.
Best Regards
Bimal
sumi
Hi Airtel
i have been working at well stablished telecommiunication company in sri lanka as centers coordinater with handling finance side of all centers islandwide & like to joint with you
contact me -0713476050
thanks
sumi
Delreen De SIlva
Hi,
Well Its good to have a fifth GSM player in SL. Like to join with you all and grow.
I am working in a well establised diversified company. would like to experience in the new feild like telecommunication. I have 15 years accounting expereience and currently working as Acting Accountant.If wish to invite me pls contact me on 071-4942756
Sivagnanam Haridev
Hi Airtel,
This is the ever best news that we can hear for the Sri Lankans in the telecommunication history. I have used your services in India and was very exciting to hear that your services will be also available in Sri Lanka.
We are very eagerly waiting for your Services and also i could be one of the person who will be switching to your services as soon as you supply.
Hope that it will be a change to Sri Lanka and all my best wishes to Amali and her team to perform a good job.
Thanks,
Kind Regards
Shiva
0775152254
Shaheer
I’m Shaheer A/l passed in srilanka
Do you have job
Sandun Senevirathna
Hi Air tell,
We are looking forward on your launch here in Sri lanka. This will be an un beleivable change in our telecommunication history.
We are a company which is established for cab services. So,it is very helpful us to have a telephone connection from you. As a Cab service we are looking some attractive numbers.
If you are willing to communicate with me pls send mails through my e-mail : sscabs5712812@gmail.com
Hope you will be the greatest telecommunicator in Sri Lanka. Best wishes and Regards to your team.
Sandun
0722337077
BANDU
hi,AIRTEL,
COME SOON,WE’RE WAITING, WE LIKE TO JOIN YOU.