Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel, having launched the first 3.5G HSPA network in South Asia, announced today its commitment to embrace Next Generation Network (NGN) with its next phase of expansion which will eventually reach a total over 2500 base stations with an emphasis in covering the North and East of Sri Lanka. In pursuit of its vision to "Lead Sri Lanka towards an infocom and knowledge rich society", the National Mobile Service provider is set to advance its engine with latest NGN, in order to eventually realize ‘Broadband for All’.

The company is set to enhance the capacities of its backhaul to energize both the new and existing sites, taking the fullest advantage of its parent’s (Sri Lanka Telecom PLC) sophisticated IP/MPLS optical fiber backbone, while commencing trials on Long Term Evolution (LTE) as its Next G. This initiative augers well for welcoming and actively supporting the ‘Next Generation Networks Standardization Forum’ hosted by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) together with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Commonwealth Telecommunication Organization (CTO), held during the period from 07th to 10th of April, in Colombo.

"Enabling a digital society is the key priority of the Government of Sri Lanka and this initiative of Mobitel is in that direction." emphasized Priyantha Kariyapperuma, Director General of TRCSL and the Vice Chairman of CTO. "The benefits of Next Generation Network in social and economic terms have already been given due consideration."

Speaking on the NGN initiative, Ms. Leisha De Silva Chandrasena, Chairperson of Sri Lanka Telecom and Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel, stated, "As the National Telecom Service provider, we consider it our prime duty to connect the unconnected. In doing so, we will adopt the latest technologies to meet the varied needs of our next generation. As such, this phase of expansion will focus on providing information, communication and most importantly mobile broadband facilities and thereby extend our fullest support to the government in realizing the vision ‘2009 – The year of ICT and English’."