Sky Network, a subsidiary of Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), has been granted investment approval by the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka to provide island-wide WiMAX broadband coverage, according to the Sri Lankan newspaper Daily Mirror’s website.
The project will provide internet facilities based on the latest WiMAX technology, WiMAX 802.16e. According to Sky Network CEO Mahinda Herath, the company will be the first to provide services based on this technology in Sri Lanka.
Sky Network’s venture complements the services provided by SLT, its main shareholder. Sky Network will provide its WiMAX services to parts of Sri Lanka in which ADSL services are not offered by SLT.
Operations will commence in March 2010, with Sky Network expecting to provide cover to the entire island through four implementation phases. The first phase will provide services to Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara Districts, and is expected to create a customer base of 11000.
The first two phases of the project represent an investment of US$12.8 million. The agreement was signed by Board of Investment Chairman & Director General Dhammika Perera, who presented the Certificate of Registration to SLT Chairperson Leisha De Silva Chandrasena.
