Sri Lanka Telecom launches “Carrier-grade” public Wi-Fi “hotspots”

Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), the national ICT solutions provider and the largest communication backbone network operator in the country announced that it has introduced its cutting-edge “carrier-grade” public Wi-Fi technology in Sri Lanka.

As a result of this announcement, all Sri Lankans can now able to experience the next evolution in wireless broadband connectivity in the very near future, as SLT expands Sri Lanka’s first carrier-grade Wi-Fi network.

The official ceremony in this regard was held on 17th May marking World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) at the world famous elephant orphanage in Pinnawela premises in the presence of Hon Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Minister of Telecommunication and IT. Hon. Mahipala Herath, Chief Minister of Sabaragamuwa Province, S.M. Gotabaya Jayarathne, Secretary to the Ministry of Telecommunications & IT and Lalith de Silva, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Sri Lanka Telecom.

Lalith De Silva, Group Chief Executive Officer of SLT, Hon. Mahipala Herath, Chief Minister of Sabaragamuwa Province, Hon. Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Minister of Telecommunications & IT at the ceremony held at Pinnawala recently in the presence of several VIPs, Invitees and SLT Senior Officials.

The company will be further expanding its public Wi-Fi hotspot service, which is the Next Generation Wireless Broadband Access (WBA) technology to expand and improve the overall quality of the country’s broadband footprint to empower more citizens in the country with a superior broadband experience.

The company believes ‘SLT Wi-Fi’ solution is set to revolutionise the mobile computing experience for end-users. Commonly known busy places like airports, hotels and cafés with Wi-Fi connectivity, an increasing number of enterprises, SMEs and retailers are looking to offer Wi-Fi as a value added service, so customers and visitors will have a better experience for shopping etc.

Through SLT Wi-Fi Hotspots high-end enterprises, private and public institutions, SMEs and micro businesses also will get new opportunities to tap into new business models as well as to improve their businesses and attract more customers simply by creating an inviting environment for customers and visitors to spend more time within or around the premises.

Existing SLT Broadband users will get immense freedom to get connect to any of SLT’s public Wi-Fi Hotspots by using the same Broadband username and password which they use at home or office to connect to the internet. Connecting to SLT Wi-Fi Hotspots is possible with any Wi-Fi capable mobile or smart device when travelling, shopping, meeting friends, at an event,...etc.

Hon Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Minister of Telecommunication and IT, expressing his views, said “Today, the need for more options for ICT, connectivity and bandwidth is very much needed to move forward with the country’s development goals. GoSL is very clear on the country’s ICT strategy and we are not only confined to urban town areas when introducing new technology and ICT services.  We are also bringing technological advancements even to the farthest rural areas of the country. This is one of the classic examples where SLT has introduced carrier-grade Wi-Fi technology in Pinnawala, an area that is away from the highly commercial City Colombo.”

Lalith de Silva, Group CEO of SLT, making his comment on this industry milestone, said “Users of carrier-grade Wi-Fi will be able to access rich media content, or data intensive enterprise applications while on the go, in a way that wasn’t previously possible on standard public Wi-Fi. For retail environments, this has the potential to open up a world of immersive, interactive shopping experiences for customers, and it will also allow them to share their experiences online in the most efficient and cost effective manner. Business users, on the other hand, will benefit from a high speed, reliable connection back into the company network to conduct faster, more efficient business while on the move”.