SLT launches largest ICT project in Jaffna - Aims to broaden ICT horizons to revolutionise lifes...

Aims to broaden ICT horizons to revolutionise lifestyles of Sri Lankans

Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) launched its ultra high speed broadband network yesterday under its nation-wide network modernisation project ‘i-Sri Lanka’. This is the largest ICT project in Jaffna alongside the opening of the SLT Regional Telecommunication Office and Maintenance Centre in Jaffna.

The ‘i-Sri Lanka’ network modernisation project is set to revolutionise broadband access across the country, by upgrading the existing copper based access network with fibre optics. This will enable customers to enjoy the consistent, uninterrupted high speed internet services delivered on the network, up to high speeds up to 20 mega bytes per second and more.
This network transformation is the precursor for unleashing many new and unique products and services across the areas of voice, data and video to SLT’s customers, inspired by a vision to connect all Sri Lankans seamlessly with world class information, communication and entertainment services across the country.
The company’s’ new brand proposition – ‘One Country. One Voice’ – epitomises the infinite value that the brand adds to the lives of Sri Lankans both here and abroad.
Under this ‘i-Sri Lanka’ project, the company will expand and upgrade its network to provide SLT Megaline customers with highest quality voice, consistent, uninterrupted high speed internet and interactive television facilities across the country. It will provide an ideal platform for private business networking, interactive entertainment, distance learning, online education, e-health, and much more at superior speed, high quality and high reliability. ‘i-Sri Lanka’ brings access to SLT’s PEOTV services by opening up a whole new dimension of visual entertainment to a larger audience. Minister of Information Technology Ranjith Siyambalapitiya noted: “The superior service offered by Sri Lanka Telecom via the ‘i-Sri Lanka’ project and the improved Information Technology services that it will provide will enable the country to earn over a billion dollars through exports by 2016.  The project will also facilitate setting up of Information Technology centres in all villages in the north and will thus enable the entire country to have instant transactions with the international community.’
Speaking on the relevance of launching the ‘i-Sri Lanka’ project and the opening of the Regional Office and Maintenance Centre in Jaffna, SLT CEO Greg Young highlighted the need for the country to stay connected.
“The launch of the ‘i-Sri Lanka’ project in Jaffna is significant as it helps bridge the divide between Jaffna and the rest of the country in terms of access to world class telecommunications and broadband services bringing information and entertainment options to our customers. Through this project, we will upgrade our network across the country with state-of-the art facilities and accelerate network modernisation to link the nation under our theme ‘One Country. One Voice.’”
Unlike in the past where copper cables were used over long distances from the fibre-optic backbone resulting in reduction in network performance with the increase in distance, the i-Sri Lanka project eliminates these limitations of the copper cables with the use of much high performance and reliable fibre optic cable – all linked by thousands of Multi-Service Access Nodes (MSANs) installed across the country. The MSAN nodes are placed strategically to serve neighbourhoods across the country, providing the nation with the highest uninterrupted broadband network speeds.  Not only will the increased use of fibre optic improve network performance, it will also result in a reduction in the length of copper connections thereby significantly increasing reliability for customers and reducing maintenance and replacement costs for SLT.
The full utilisation of bandwidth, along with the capability of delivering multiple network solutions and services via a single port makes it both efficient and cost effective. Therefore, while the upgrade is cost effective and efficient for SLT, it’s also beneficial to SLT customers.
With high speed network connections available across this expanding network, the introduction of new services will enhance the SLT experience while allowing customers to enjoy high quality of service as never experienced before.
The same technology that connects the entire country to the global community also provides the foundation that will serve telecommunications in Sri Lanka for the next decade. The integration of SLT’s Next Generation Network (NGN), fibre backbone and access network, optimization of the existing extensive copper network and the aggressive plan for consistent, high speed, uninterrupted broadband speeds under the ‘i-Sri Lanka’ project, combine seamlessly to deliver a world class and Future Ready capability.
The ‘i-Sri Lanka’ project was conceived at the end of 2010 to enhance and upgrade SLT’s existing fixed network lines that connect SLT customers. The project aims to expand the fibre network closer to customers through Fibre To The Node (FTTN), through the strategic positioning of MSANs within short distances, thereby reducing the length of the copper connections with a resultant significant increase in reliability, quality and broadband data speeds. Reducing the copper cable lengths not only improves reliability, but will reduce maintenance and replacement costs.
Through this programme SLT plans to enhance the network bringing ultra high speed broadband connectivity at speeds up to 20Mbps speed for its fixed customers over a two-year period. This programme is fully integrated with the company’s NGN modernisation. In addition, most importantly, this expansion will bring SLT’s interactive PeoTV, multi channel TV network services, to all Megaline customers for the first time.