According to this intriguing story, Sri Lanka may become the first country in the world to license WiMAX operators.
Leaving aside the wisdom of licensing technologies (as opposed to services), any action to shake things up in the broadband market must be welcomed.
Of course, our joy will be that much greater if the TRC ensures that the WiMAX operators are given non-discriminatory and cost-oriented access to the SLTL and Dialog backbones and that open access to the undersea cable is also assured.
Without these regulatory actions, one may get connectivity to something, but not the Internet.
7 Comments
Sam
We are one of the few countries in the world still licenses Dial-up. We are one of the few countries in the world still tax books. We are one of the few countries in the world that do not have open community frequency band. That mean theoretically even Wi-Fi is illegal in Sri Lanka (or everyone has to take a license). We are one of the few countries in the world VOIP is banned (or strictly licensed) from general public. That mean theoretically Skype, MSN, Net2Phone is illegal to use in Sri Lanka.
License baby! Government can make little bit of money with the fee. But someone else can create huge some sum with this artificially control market. TRC is always for it!
Anonymous
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.
Anonymous
Again only for metropolitans!!!!! As sam says (hope this is not Sam who was Sung some time back) TRC is yet to wake up from its Ryp Van Vincle’s sleep about the modern technologies.
Kanchana got a slap in the year by the president today when the president asked him to regularise the Satellite TV stations rather than banning like a Chandiya in the bazaar does!!!!!
Wi Max
Need to know which companies have applied for WiMax yet. Any news???
Jayananda Edirisinghe
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Monday awarded four licences to cellular phone operators to launch their services in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and the Northern Areas.
After the October 8 earthquake, the government had decided to allow cellular phone operators to provide much-needed telecommunication services in the quake-hit areas.
The PTA had invited applications from all working cellular phone operators in Pakistan. In response, Mobilink, Ufone, Telenor and Warid had applied for the licence. The four companies had also started providing telecom facilities to those areas on interim arrangement to help the relief work there.
Processing their applications, the PTA issued licences to all four operators for 15 years against $10 million fee each. The PTA also decided that the Special Communication Organisation (SCO), that was providing telecom services to the AJK, would pay the same amount at the time of renewal of its existing licence.
Speaking at the occasion, AJK Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan said that the development of telecommunication infrastructure in AJK would improve the standards of living in the area and provide job opportunities to many people.
He appreciated the swift response from the PTA as well as the private sector in the quake-relief work. “Their presence in the region enhanced the services being provided by the SCO in the rescue and relief activities.”
He added, “Permanent licences to these companies will certainly contribute to the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in the area besides boosting linkages of the region with the rest of the country.”
He said that with the government’s decision to deregulate the telecom sector in AJK, the AJK Council passed the adoption and enforcement of the Pakistan Telecommunication (Reorganisation) Act 1996 in AJK.
He said awarding licences to the four companies was the first significant step towards the promotion of the telecom sector in the region.
The AJK PM praised the efforts of the ministries concerned and the PTA for “an efficient and timely award of licences that would certainly open doors of telecom growth for AJK.”
Shahzada Alam Malik, the PTA chairman, said the SCO had had exclusivity in AJK since 1976. “These are difficult areas for establishing telecom networks and the SCO has done fairly well. In 1976, the total telecom assets in AJK were 4,000 line exchanges only. Today, there are 85,000 fixed line subscribers in AJK and about 17,000 in the Northern Areas of the country. The cellular mobile subscribers of SCO in AJK are 49,000 and of other companies are about 150,000,” he added.
The PTA chairman said that because of one company’s monopoly in the region, the growth in this sector was slow, as SCO could not invest the required amount for expansion of its network.
He said the new licences for different telecom services in AJK and the Northern Areas would be issued in two phases. In phase-I, four licences for cellular mobile phone services have been issued. Phase-II includes issuing licences for fixed line telephony, which would be done by the end of next month.
He said in Pakistan, the growth of cellular mobile was astounding. “About two million subscribers are being added every month. We have already crossed the mark of 32 million. We expect similar results in AJK and the Northern Areas.” The chief executive officers of Ufone, Mobilink, Telenor and Warid also spoke on the occasion.
Anonymous
Sri Lanka::
* Sri Lanka requires approval for telecommunications licenses
Wednesday, June 28, 2006, 13:07 GMT, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
June 28, Colombo: The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka has been directed to seek clearance from the Ministry of Defence before issuing any licenses, given the potential threats to national security.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has also directed the Commission to get clearance from the Ministry of Defence for the importation of telecommunications equipment that may have an impact on national security.
This move has been initiated due to the current security situation in the country, the Sri Lankan government said. Lo
WiMax
http://www.wirelessdesignasia.com/article.asp?id=2622
Lanka Internet, Redline Deploy WiMAX Forum Certified Metropolitan Network
Lanka Internet, Sri Lanka’s pioneer facility-based telecom services operator, has selected Redline’s RedMAX to establish Sri a fully certified WiMAX broadband metropolitan network in Colombo.
Lanka Internet network incorporates Redline’s WiMAX-certified products to deliver robust, reliable broadband services to the local marketplace – providing an affordable alternative to ADSL, leased Lines and other broadband Internet access products. Lanka Internet is now offering its new WiMAX services to business and select residential customers in the region that were previously underserved by the existing infrastructure.
“Lanka Internet has demonstrated its commitment to delivering the most advanced communications services available to its customers,” said Majed Sifri, President and CEO, Redline Communications. “By establishing its WiMAX network today, Lanka Internet is uniquely positioned to attract new subscribers, introduce new services, and distinguish itself from other service providers in the region. We look forward to working with Lanka Internet as they expand their WiMAX strategy to markets throughout Sri Lanka.”
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