SLT-Mobitel honoured at Asian Technology Excellence Awards 2022

From left: Manager – Network Strategy and Transformation Buddhika Maldeniya, Chief Technology Officer Rasantha Hettithanthrige, Head of Network Strategy and Transformation Shamil Appathurai, General Manager – Network Planning and Optimisation Indika Asurappulige, Supervisory Engineer – Network Asset Acquisition Jeewani Fernando, Senior Manager – Radio Network Planning Lasitha Rideewita

• For innovative broadband deployment to empower rural communities 

Reiterating its leadership in innovative broadband deployment solutions, SLT-Mobitel, the National ICT Solutions Provider was honoured with the prestigious ‘Technology Excellence Award for Network and Broadband – Telecommunications’ at The Asian Technology Excellence Awards 2022. 

The recognition is in appreciation of SLT-Mobitel’s innovative use of LTE 850MHz broadband solution which provides extensive coverage to rural areas of the country. 

Understanding the need to provide superior rural connectivity to support the nation’s ongoing digital transformation and bridging the digital divide, SLT-Mobitel’s innovative LTE 850MHz network strategically combined the underutilised spectrum from obsolete CDMA fixed line operations and forfeited its resources to obtain a new non-interfered 5MHz band for 4G LTE deployment from the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL). This enabled, SLT-Mobitel to significantly enhance rural connectivity across Sri Lanka, empowering every Sri Lankan to avail the benefit of SLT-Mobitel’s Sub-1GHz 850MHz LTE network especially during COVID-19 travel restrictions where broadband had become a necessity for everyone. In addition, SLT-Mobitel’s LTE 850MHz solution recovered valuable national spectrum resources which was interfered and exhausted earlier. With the coverage enhancement the mobile arm was able to connect an additional 700,000 subscribers who did not have access to broadband services earlier. With the LTE 850MHz deployment, SLT-Mobitel was able to further bolster its support during COVID-19, providing rural communities especially the school children, people who worked from home and national authorities to immediately respond to COVID-19 emergency situations, thereby narrowing Sri Lanka’s digital divide. 

As the National ICT Solutions Provider, SLT-Mobitel’s LTE 850MHz cost-effective broadband services have tremendously uplifted rural communities in the areas of Education, Work, Healthcare, National Emergencies, helping them overcome challenges by enhancing accessibility and affordability of broadband and ICT technologies. 

Furthermore, supporting network expansion and faster speeds for all, SLT-Mobitel is engaged in the deployment and trialling of its 5G network. To date SLT-Mobitel has expanded its 5G pre-commercial trial network across main cities in the country, setting a pathway for customers to experience the transformational power of the 5G technology. SLT-Mobitel has also been recognised for providing unparalleled connectivity and superior user experience bagging the prestigious ‘Fastest Mobile Network’ for three consecutive years by Ookla, the global leader in fixed broadband and mobile network testing applications, data and analysis. 

In gearing Sri Lanka towards embracing the next generation technologies such as 5G, Metaverse, AI, Big Data and many more, SLT-Mobitel continues to invest and expand its network infrastructures, taking the nation towards its next phase of digital advancement.