SLT reaches 200,000 ADSL Broadband customer milestone

Over 200,000 Sri Lankan homes and businesses (including entrepreneurs, small, medium and large organisations) now access broadband services via ADSL 2+ technology on SLT's islandwide Broadband network. This represents more than 70% of Sri Lanka's total broadband consumer base and over 20% of SLT Megaline (PSTN/wireline) telephone customer base. The company has succeeded in achieving its target for the year 2010 ahead of time, mainly due to the recently concluded island-wide broadband campaign, "SLT Broadband Twenty20 Promotion".

P.E.D.A. Silva of Pulastigama, Polonnaruwa, was the 200,000th customer to be connected with SLT Broadband services. The SLT broadband service was already activated for him by enabling broadband access through the 'Entire' package.

The promotional campaign was SLT's response to the huge demand for ADSL broadband services that has arisen from all parts of the country and is also an attempt by the company to popularise broadband services among all Sri Lankans by providing them access to information and entertainment content whenever they want.

During 2010, a total of 80,000 new customers got connected with SLT Broadband services for High-speed internet and IPTV (PeoTV) services. Customers have benefitted from ADSL Broadband due to its always on connection, higher speed, reliability and uninterrupted service provided by wireline with benefits of cost savings and affordability. The ability to make and receive calls simultaneously while browsing the internet are among the great values it offers.

Through SLT Broadband, customers receive access to multiple services of voice, broadband internet and TV/multimedia and all other benefits through a single wireline connection. SLT started offering IPTV through its broadband platform in year 2008 and has succeeded in covering almost all the provinces in the country.

Customers have the freedom and flexibility to choose from a wide selection of broadband plans to meet their individual needs. Services include downstream speeds of up to 4 Mbps for SLT Broadband internet customers. For customers with a wireline home/business telephone, SLT provides a broadband connection starting at Rs. 500/= per month without a connection fee. SLT Broadband services provides high speed internet access (downstream) through seven different packages: Entrée (512Kbps - Volume based), Home (512Kbps - Unlimited), Xcite (1Mbps - Unlimited), Office (2Mbps - Unlimited), Office 1IP (2Mbps - Unlimited, 1Static IP), Xcel (4Mbps - Unlimited) and Xcel 1IP (4Mbps - Unlimited, 1Static IP).

The Entrie package has a huge demand and is considered as the internet surfers' initial choice. Office, Office 1IP, Xcel and Xcel 1IP packages have been especially designed to suit the requirements of small and medium sized enterprises.

The popularity of Wi-Fi (wireless internet zones) services in home and office environments also has grown tremendously. Customers prefer to access information using their Wi-Fi enabled smartphones, laptops, netbooks and other devices that provides them greater freedom easily. Therefore customers can decide to have a wireless ADSL modem or router at their home or office to create a wireless internet zone at any time if they have an ADSL broadband connection.

With the range of different broadband internet packages on offer, SLT customers can enjoy a host of value added services such as VoIP services, IPTV, Time Shift TV (TSTV), Video on Demand (VoD), e-learning as well as gaming. The company's IPTV (SLT PeoTV) services are pioneering IP based TV broadcasting services in Sri Lanka.

During this year, SLT has expanded and upgraded its broadband infrastructure by reaching areas away from main cities like Hingurana, Pottuvil, Uhana (in AMPARA), Badalkumbura, Bibila, Mahiyanganaya (in BADULLA), Dummalasooriya, Kalpitiya, Palavi, Udappu (in CHILAW), Beliaththa, Walasmulla, Weeraketiya (in HAMBANTOTA), Chavakachcheri, Kilinochchi, Kopay, Manipai, Shithankarni (in JAFFNA), Bopitiya, Gonagalpura, Megahatenna, Moragahahena (in KALUTARA), Akkareipattu, Thirukkovil (in KALMUNAI), Walawela, Udasgiriya, Pallepola (in MATALE), Hanguranketha, Hatharaliyadda, Galaha, Medawela, Rikillagaskada (in KANDY), Ambanpitiya, Hiriwadunna, Ganethenna, Molagoda, Kotiyakumbura, Randiwela, Undugoda, Uthuwankanda, Uyanwatte (in KEGALLE), Dambadeniya, Digampitiya, Galgamuwa, Mahawa, Melsiripura, Narampola, Bandarakoswatta, Ingaradaula, Kandanegedara, Kobeigane (in KURUNEGALA), Ayagama, Kalawana, Nivitigala, Rakwana (in RATNAPURA), Kanthale, Medirigiriya, Wathumulla, Buttala.

These have brought about infrastructure developments including laying fibre optic cables, copper network expansion, upgrade exchange capacities, more switching capacities, copper line quality improvements and ISP bandwidth upgrades.

SLT expanded its fibre optic information superhighway to the Northern Peninsula in Sri Lanka recently. Quick deployment of the Broadband infrastructure in the Northern Peninsula has provided the company with great opportunities to serve the newly opened up markets of the Northern and Eastern provinces.

The fibre optic cable project connects Mannar, Vavuniya, Trincomalee and Jaffna along the A9 main road. In addition new telephone exchanges at Mankulam and Mulathivu, located in the Northern part of Sri Lanka, will enhance basic communication facilities and Broadband coverage for customers in the areas.