|
|
|
|
  |
| Sunday, 27 March 2005 |
 |
|
 |
Business |
 |
|
News Business Features
Editorial
|
MoU to provide one million phones by Hiran H. Senewiratne The government has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with leading telecom companies to provide one million telephones to the country. The main objective of this move is to provide fixed/wireless phones especially in rural areas within the next three years, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Udarata Development D.M. Jayaratne said. Under this program 85,000 Suntel lines, 75,000 Lanka Bell lines and 150,000 lines from Lanka Internet Satellite Company will be provided to the country mostly in rural areas. "At present the country's telephone demand has reached 715,000 which needs to be resolved as soon as possible for the well-being of the country," Minister Jayaratne said. Suntel, Lanka Bell and Lanka Internet Satellite Company are signatories to the agreement. Although, Sri Lanka Telecom is not a signatory to the agreement there are plans to provide 61,000 land phones and 50,000 wireless phones for a year, he said. He said that during the last six years the demand for telephones had increased dramatically and this would reach the one million mark very soon. The government will also provide infrastructure to all telecommunication providers to provide telephones to rural areas. The Minister said that licences would be cancelled if companies are unable to provide phones under the agreement. Deputy Minister of Posts, Telecommunication and Udarata Development Rohitha Abeygunawardena said that they hope to invite another fixed or wireless phone operator to the country to meet the existing demand. Director-General Telecommunication Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRC)
Aruna Amarasekera said that the TRC will support all three telephone
companies to achieve their targets. |
|
|
| News
| Business |
Features |
Editorial | Security | Produced by Lake House |
