Plug ‘N Play

Suntel Ltd., a unit of Sweden's Overseas Telecom AB, has launched a pre-paid fixed line service with an eye to tap the low and middle income segments, officials said Tuesday.











Suntel Ltd., a unit of Sweden's Overseas Telecom AB, has launched a pre-paid fixed line service with an eye to tap the low and middle income segments, officials said Tuesday. Sri Lanka's first wireless local loop operator is making use of low cost CDMA or Code Division Multiple Access standard, to capture rural segments of the country and double its customer base to 250,000 by year end.

CDMA is a wireless communication technology developed initially for mobile telephony which later became more versatile with technology advancements.

Sold on similar lines as a mobile phone package, customers can buy a connection along with a handset and use their phone anywhere within the base station's range when connected to a power outlet.

The privately held operator has teamed up with Ceylinco Grameen Bank, a unit of Ceylinco Consolidated, offering up to 25,000 new phones to the bank's 130,000 customer base.

Some 500 customers signed up for the service, paying Rs.

15,000 in three installments. Each