Task Force to popularise broadband connections

by Surekha GALAGODA

A Task Force comprising members of the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRC) and Information Communication and Technology Agency (ICTA) have been appointed to explore avenues of popularising broadband connections in Sri Lanka due to the low penetration of broadband connections, said Intel country Manager Indika De Soyza.

He said that at present there are about 400,000-500,000 connections which is very low.

The committee will explore ways of reducing cost and thereby encouraging the telecommunication companies to expand the reach.

Hopefully, there will be some incentives on broadband connections in the Budget to be presented tomorrow while hardware companies are expecting a reduction in the price on components.

The tax on components has been already reduced from 8 percent to 5.5 percent.

He said that education too will be made cost effective.

Intel Chairman Christopher A. R. Darby said you are taxing your future by imposing taxes on education.

Therefore making education cost effective is a must”, he said.

The TRC has issued guidelines on the spectrum on WIMAX while the cost of dongles too will be reduced by reducing the high tax imposed on it at present.

De Soyza said that Intel is positive about the growth potential in Sri Lanka while there was tremendous growth during the past six months. Intel will also expand its investment in Sri Lanka while many members of the top management were in Sri Lanka during the past six months.

He said that from 2011 the ICT sector will move faster while Intel is a trusted advisor to the Government.

He said that the Intel Teach programme will be launched next month in the South while it will be introduced to schools in the North Central Province early next year. He said that the Intel Teach programme will complete five years next year and there will be a series of programmes to mark the occasion.

Intel is also planning to translate the school syllabuses into Sinhala and Tamil next year.

At present it gets around 300,000 hits per month and this number will increase when the syllabuses are transacted.

He said that they are planning to expand the dealer network in the North and the East while training sessions are being conducted in Trincomalee, Jaffna and Batticaloa.

De Soyza said that there has been a steep growth in the ICT sector while there is much potential in the North and the East too and he was confident that the growth numbers will be higher in the North and the East next year.

There has been huge development in the sector within the past 5-6 years, a growth of about 30 percent, he said.