Cutting the Wires

Fixed line giant Sri Lanka Telecom together with international chipmaker Intel Corp.







, will deploy a high speed wireless internet network, with a test service already in operation.









Fixed line giant Sri Lanka Telecom together with international chipmaker Intel Corp., will deploy a high speed wireless internet network, with a test service already in operation. Telecom chief Shuhei Anan on Friday said the WiMax network could be deployed across the island within a year if all regulatory approvals could be obtained without the usual bureaucratic delays customary in Sri Lanka.

Currently SLT has been allocated test frequencies for its trial wireless network, with pilot base stations in Colombo and Galle already up.

Anan said if all approvals were in place, the WiMax implementation would be rolled out in phases, with the first estimated to cost about US$ 1 million and will cover key metropolitan areas including Colombo, Galle and Kandy.

The SLT chief added that the WiMax network would be part of the telecom giant’s overall strategy to connect the entire island, with its new CDMA network, fibre backbone and other infrastructure, all used to service the different needs of the