11 Comments

1. 

   Sam

   June 20, 2006, 9:45 pm

   It is about time.. Just check out US and SLT Phone/Data Price Comparison

   http://unprotectedthoughts.com/2006/06/price-comparison-sri-lanka-vs-america.html#phone

2. 

   Divakar

   June 20, 2006, 10:33 pm

   The price comparisons in the link provided above is misleading and in some cases just wrong.

3. 

   Divakar

   June 20, 2006, 10:44 pm

   Ethernet over fiber seems to be the preferred technology for wired broadband delivery for the near future. Just as the current wired options may be financially unviable in sparsely populated regions, Ethernet will probably suffer from the same limitations. Some wireless solutions need to be explored.

   http://www.lirneasia.net/2006/06/increased-backhaul-capacity-needed-globally/

4. 

   samarajiva

   June 20, 2006, 11:06 pm

   Sam’s price comparisons are very interesting, but I would be happier if some verification of their accuracy can be provided. We have make sure apples are being compared with apples.

5. 

   Jegan

   June 20, 2006, 11:44 pm

   Samarajiwa says …..

   “This news item should be of significant interest to our readers who want these services offered in rural locations such as Mahavilachchiya.”

   Mahavilachchiya seems again in the center in this thread too. Aren’t there any other project to talk about? Why only Mahavilachchiya? Won’t too much attention dazzle the eyes of those in MV?

6. 

   Divakar

   June 20, 2006, 11:55 pm

   For example:
   Sam’s example
   US to Saudi Arabia Rs 4
   Sri Lanka to Saudi Arabia Rs 46

   My example:
   US to Saudi Arabia Rs 49 AT&T
   (http://www.consumer.att.com/global/english/international/int_anywhere.html)
   Sri Lanka to Saudi Arabia Rs 40 ( Rs 6 VAT)
   http://www.slt.lk/data/forhome/032incalls_calc.asp

   The example one chooses makes a hell of a difference:
   US to Sri Lanka Rs 102 (ATT)
   Sri Lanka to US Rs 20 (SLT)

7. 

   Harsha Purasinghe

   June 22, 2006, 12:12 pm

   Well high speed access over whatever medium is great for what we are experiencing now. Metro ethernet promises high bandwidth and hope SLT will deliver as well as they promise. I am not sure what’s SLT strategy as they seems to implement mix of technologies from wireless implementations to wired implementations. (WiMax to things like Metro). Perhaps they are going to address various needs and hope the service is in par with what they intend to charge.

   I want to share something happening in Singapore which is initiated as usual by the dynamic Singapore Government who wants to ensure Singapore remains a high-tech business hub. In this context the Singapore government has asked for bids for Service Providers to bid to offer Wireless High Speed Internet Services which will reach up to 10Mbs or more within the City areas/Business Districts. It was told that based on the bid price the government will fund the providers either in full or partially. The most interesting part is that the Singapore goernment wants to see this Wirless Access for everyone for FREE! FREE unless the bid prices of providers goes up. This plans to be in place by October this year.

   So idea is anyone who is within city limits who wants to fire a email or browse while waiting for a taxi or in the MRT can access high speed wireless internet for Free.

   So compared to what’s going on in Singapore at least if SLT offers us connectivity either wired or wireless high speed access at an price we can afford it’s good enough, but we have to wait to see how they deliver.

8. 

   Sriganesh Lokanathan

   June 22, 2006, 9:43 pm

   I doubt the announced plans by SLT will benefit rural customers. At present I don’t think a sound business proposition exists for SLT to provide rural connectivity via wired solutions.

   I read the link provided by Sam with interest, but the examples choosen are arbitrary and misleading. In the cited examples in Sam’s link the author is comparing traditional phone service vs. VOIP. Also the OptimumVoice rates quoted are misleading since you need to additionaly subscribe to their internet solution as well. Similarly one must also remember that comparability is not just on price but also on service. I doubt SLT ADSL solution will compare in speed with the services in the US. Generally broadband is termed as having atleast 256kbps connectivity. Can we say that about ADSL connections in SL? Whats more confusing in this “comparability game” is that someone can rightly argue that you may get similar speeds in SL when accessing sites hosted in SL (though atleast in my recent experience I have not seen it using SLT business ADSL service).

   I need to check up on the quoted dedicated internet charges for SL. While I expect SL rates to be very high, I think the quoted price is incorrect (i.e. LKR 160k/mth for 512kbps??).

   The bundling of packages generally makes comparability difficult for the individual services and this trend is only likely to increase. Interested readers should take a look at the documention for LIRNEasia’s Delhi ICT Indicators Workshop
   The presentation by Sam Paltridge (OECD) on e-indicators provides more examples of the issues with comparability brought on by convergence in technologies and the bundling of services.

9. 

   Donald Gaminitillake

   June 23, 2006, 1:16 pm

   Other than horizon the next place would be Higurukaduwa. But this project needs more help and a long way to reach “Horizon”.

   At Higurukaduwa the Lanka Bell CDMA works. At Mahavilachchiya nothing works!!!! other than Dialog at around 2-5 meters around the Tower

   http://www.lakaruna.org/events/2004/medea/visitors.html

   If Jegan is anti MV go and help Higurukaduwa or there is another bud at Malabe.

   Jegan where do you want to help!!! You have a choice of three with three different IT enviornments.

   Donald Gaminitillake
   Colombo

10. 

    Alexander

    June 23, 2006, 9:55 pm

    WiMax coming!!!! Again, not for Mahavilachchiya!!! Only for Colombo, Galle and Kandy for the next 10 years!!!! Yet another innovative act by TRC!!!!

    Seamless Access
    23 June 2006 18:41:35
    Sri Lanka telco watchdog to issue WiMAX licenses

    June 23, 2006 (LBO) – Over a dozens firms have responded to the telecom watchdog’s call to take up a WiMAX license and offer services islandwide, the regulator said Friday.

    WiMAX or Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access uses the 3.5 gigahertz frequency band to provide cost effective broadband technologies.

    The telecom regulator will initially set the tariffs, as the government is keen to provide internet connectivity to remote areas at very low costs.

    “The responses have been overwhelming and the intention of TRCSL is to have the major cities covered by WiMAX by December 2006,” Telecommunications Regulatory Commission Director General, Kanchana Ratwatte said.

    Firms seeking to deploy WiMAX included a few existing operators who wanted to amend their licenses, Ratwatte said.

    WiMAX is considered to be a more cost effective broadband technology over the traditional wire-line based solutions such as ADSL and dial-up lines.

    So far, the TRC has assigned test frequencies to Sri Lanka Telecom – the island’s biggest fixed line operator – for a WiMAX project. A commercial rollout requires a frequency license.

    SLTs Chief Marketing Officer, Kapila Chandrasena told reporters on Tuesday that they could deploy a WiMAX network islandwide within a year once all regulatory approvals come through.

    SLT is initially looking at rolling out WiMAX in metropolitan areas like Colombo, Kandy and Galle.

11. 

    OnTime BPO Mahavilachchiya

    January 22, 2008, 7:56 am

    The performance of Isuru, Nadeeka and Nilanka at OnTime BPO for the month of December could be summarised as follows. The customer, John Keells Holdings announced an attractive incentive for the three best performers and will continue to do so.

    Name Performance against industry standards Quality Audit Score
    Isuru 1.31 100% 100%
    Nadeeka 1.29 100% 100%
    Nilanka 1.17 99.96% 99.96%