Dialog Axiata has inaugurated its pilot LTE network in several key areas of Colombo. The network achieved delivery of 100 Mbps data rates indoors and 40–50 Mbps under outdoor conditions. The Sri Lankan operator has deployed the pilot network in partnership with Huawei. The new technology will be used as a platform for the demonstration of LTE capabilities in the urban environment.

Sri Lanka’s premier telecom service provider, Dialog Axiata, announced the commencement of its 4th Generation LTE pilot Network in the City of Colombo. The pilot network will initially cover several key zones within the city and is billed to be the first exposition of a 4th Generation LTE network in the South Asian region.

Director General of the Telecommunications Regulator Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) Mr. Anusha Pelpita officiated at a demonstration of LTE network capabilities featuring the achievement of data speeds in excess of 100 MBps in indoor demonstration mode, and 40-50 MBps in outdoor mobile usage scenarios within the city.

The DG-TRCSL Mr Anusha Pelpita in congratulating Dialog on embarking on the bold initiative of setting up a Pilot LTE network said, “Sri Lanka has consistently been at the helm of technology introduction in the region. The TRCSL is very proud to note the achievements of the mobile sector in delivering mobile voice and broadband services to a Sri Lankan consumers on a very affordable basis – this has driven penetration of voice service to close to 80% and broadband services are now enjoying rapid growth. Dialog’s initiative to set up a Pilot LTE Network – introducing the next generation of broadband technology to the Sri Lankan market will no doubt add further impetus towards the achievement of the Government’s objective of making quality broadband services available to all citizens”.

Dialog’s Pilot LTE network has been built in partnership with Huawei Technologies of China and will be used as a platform for the demonstration of LTE capabilities in an urban environment. Consumers are invited to experience the ultra-fast data speeds delivered via LTE technology at Dialog’s Future World (at Darley Road). The network also provides outdoor coverage across key zones across Colombo Fort, Colombo 2, 3 & 4 and Narahenpita.

In line with its promise to deliver The Future Today, Dialog was the first to roll out a commercial 3G network in South Asia in 2006, and has since advanced its high speed mobile broadband services through the introduction of HSPA and HSPA+ technology evolutions delivering peak speeds of up to 42 MBps. Dialog’s High Speed Mobile Broadband services are available across all key towns and cities in the country and have succeeded in empowering consumers from all provinces of Sri Lanka with affordable broadband services.

Commenting on the company’s initiative to implement a 4G Pilot Network, Dr Hans Wijayasuriya said, “Dialog is proud to have the opportunity of carrying out an LTE trial in Colombo city. Technology life cycles are shrinking with each successive generation of technology and we are committed to make our network infrastructure compatible with the very latest technology and to provide our customers with network capability on par with the most developed markets in the world. The progressive policies of the TRCSL have enabled Sri Lanka to lead the region in this respect. LTE implementations are still in a nascent stage in most markets with terminal (dongle) availability being significantly limited. However, as we have seen in the case of 2G as well as 3G-HSPA, terminal availability cycles are accelerating and there is no doubt that LTE will be a fore-runner among high speed broadband technologies in the years to come. Dialog will build on the learning from the pilot network, to leverage the strengths of LTE technology towards making 4th Generation broadband services available and affordable to our customers from across all parts of Sri Lanka”.