Category: Technology

Fixed line and cellular subscribers will pay up to Rs. 5 more per minute for calling a mobile user, possibly from March 1. The additional charge comes with a shift in the national telecom policy where mobile phone users will not have to bear the cost of an incoming call.rn rnInstead, any person making the […]

Sitting fifteen floors up at the World Trade Centre (WTC) in Colombo, 350 new IT professionals will reap inspiration to develop solutions for Virtusas dominantly US based client portfolio. The US based customised IT solutions developer said on Tuesday that the firm was adding a second development centre in Colombo, growing its existing 600 IT […]

Indian telco giant, Videsh Sanchara Nigam Ltd (VSNL) has started routing traffic to Colombo, becoming the first to effectively compete with Sri Lanka Telecom on the international data and voice market.Starting late Tuesday, VSNL started transferring part of its international bandwidth through the SEA-ME-WE III submarine cable.rn rnDirect access to the SEA-ME-WE (which connects South […]

Cellular operator Dialog GSM said Monday it has become the first in Sri Lanka to commercially offer high-speed data service, starting with customers in the Colombo South area.Dialog users have to own an EDGE (enhance data rates for GSM evolution) handset to make use of quicker data download time while on the move.rn rnldblquote Dialog […]

Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) diversified its business interests further, opening an internet data center (IDC) in Colombo. The SLTiDC will offer a range of data housing facilities including web sites and services, mailing systems for retail customers and reselling opportunities. rn rnThe data center also offers clients rack space at the data center to house […]

Microsoft could couple a home edition license of its new Office 2003 software package free with every corporate license it sells in Sri Lanka. The incentive is meant to popularise the use of original software in the local personal computer (PC) population, as Microsoft plans to set up shop here in Sri Lanka.rn rnThe software […]

Dialog GSM says it is planning to create competition in international submarine bandwidth. Last Friday the IFC gave US$ 50 million in loan funding to the fast expanding mobile operator.rn Dialogs parent, Malaysia Telecom, a shareholder of the SEA-ME-WE 3 cable, initially invested US$ 140 million and has committed a further US$ 90 million.rn rnIFCs […]

The Board of Investment is mooting changes to the BOI Act for bigger tax holidays encouraging call centres to relocate here. rnCurrently Sri Lanka trails behind neighbouring countries like India and the Philippines as potential centres for Business Process Outsourcing (BPO).rn rnHigh electricity costs and until recently – inflexible labour laws restricting overtime for women […]

HSBC Group is pumping US$ 30 mn to set up its seventh group service centre in Sri Lanka, which will generate employment and put the country on the map as a serious contender in the global call centre business.Situated near the Chandra Silva stadium in Kotte, the call centre and back office unit would be […]

The Welikada prison and its 7,000 inmates will relocate elsewhere to make room for Sri Lanka Telecoms expansion plans into the business of call centre outsourcing. SLTs Telecom City project that will provide in house technology to outsource call centre operations and various other ICT related services would acquire nearly 60 acres of land currently […]

Free incoming calls for cellular phones have been shelved indefinitely due to the ongoing political spat, a top government minister said Monday.Telecommunications Minister Imthiaz Bakeer Markar says all mobile phone operators were ready to roll out the new tariff structure by January 1, but the current political problems have delayed the process.rn rnWhen President Chandrika […]

Sri Lanka Telecom is asking the government to sell the balance 49.5 percent it owns in the firm in small parcels through an international listing.Last October, the government said it hopes to sell a further stake in the telco operator and is presently exploring various exit options.rn rnSLT Chairman Thilanga Sumathipala says an international listing […]