Category: Technology
Extension Cord
Continued lobbying from the telecom industry has now opened up access to undersea cable bandwidth. Direct access to the SEA ME WE (Cable connecting South East Asia, the Middle East and Western Europe) submarine cable facility will cut bandwidth cost by an estimated 50% for telecom operators, say industry sources.rn rnAccess to capacity in the […]
Tall Order
Offering greater value to its tenants, the World Trade Centre (WTC) in Fort together with Dialog, has put in a fibre optic internet backbone in the twin towers.rnrnThe fibre optic backbone put in place at a cost of US$ 650,000, spans to the length of both towers, providing WTCs tenants with ldblquote on tap dblquote […]
Super Watchdog
Draft legislature to set up the super regulator for the information and communication sectors is now up for discussion.The bill will help form the Information and Communication Commission or Sri Lanka (ICCSL) and will be the present telecom regulators successor.rn rnAdding more muscle to the new Commission a fresh set of legislature covering electronic broadcasting […]
Bad Line
Sri Lanka Telecoms rating outlook was revised to negative by Fitch Ratings, as liberalization poses many uncertainties for the telecom giant. Fitch says future debt obligations, falling revenues and capital expectative on network expansion could strain its cash flows.rn rnHowever, Fitch affirmed SLTs SL AA+ rating for its listed unsecured redeemable debenture maturing in 2005. […]
Super Profits
Telecom operator Suntel, says its profits soared to Rs. 200.4 mn in 2002, from Rs. 22.8 mn.Suntel benefited from the prevalent low interest rates, while value added services and a tariff increase pushed revenues up by Rs.400 mn.rn rnRevenues rose to Rs. 3.58 bn from Rs. 3.156 bn in 2001. Cost of sales was up […]
Final Cost
Telco firms on Thursday agreed on a set of termination charges, setting the stage to launch a caller party pays (CPP) regime by September. However, Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) has said it would agree to CPP on condition that the regulator resolves a number of its concerns including approval of its long over due tariff […]
Rate Card
Telco firms have till the weekend to give a final verdict on termination rates proposed in a new cost based study. Industry giant Sri Lanka Telecom was absent at the Tuesday morning meeting, where the regulator met with the industry to discuss the rates.rn rnThe study also will set the base for the industrys move […]
Base Cost
Telco firms will meet the telecom watchdog Tuesday to discuss termination rates proposed in a recent consultant cost study.Telecommunications Regulatory Commission senior officials say the meeting will help complete the study, which will set termination rates between networks.rn rnThe study was initiated earlier this year to impose actual cost based call termination rates.rn rnThe new […]
Quick Time
Sri Lanka Telecom has started rolling out the first phase of its plan to innovative broadband access technologies for residential and business customers. ADSL or Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line is essentially a continuously open data line to an Internet Service Provider that works over conventional telephone lines.rn rnADSL in addition allows the ability to transfer […]
Short Circuit
rnRegulators are holding back on a date to auction overseas call access codes due to a lack of interconnection between operators.rnrnPreviously, the auction set for mid May was put off for a June date, again due to interconnection issues and a lack of rules governing the sale. rn rnNow, a draft set of rules are […]
Switching Station
Telia AB of Sweden is replacing its representative and the Managing Director in its Sri Lankan venture Suntel Limited from July 1.After four years at the top, Hugo Cederschiold will hand over the reigns of Sri Lankas second largest fixed telephone service provider to Mrs. Lillemor Larsson, from the parent company and a Director on […]
Hello Neighbour
Indian telco giant Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL) is seeking the telecom regulators approval to set up a US$ 40 mn venture in Sri Lanka.Initially offering international calls, VSNL Lanka Limited will expand its offering to include other data and voice services later.rn rnThe Board of Investment has forwarded VSNLs proposal to the Telecommunications Regulatory […]
