Telecoms news from Sri Lanka

Fitch Affirms Sri Lanka Telecom at 'BB-'/Stable

Fitch said that Sri Lanka Telecom's ratings reflect its market-leading position in Sri Lanka's fixed-line services underpinned by its monopoly in wireline and fixed-broadband. ...more.

Malaysia's Axiata in Talks to Buy Airtel's Sri Lanka Subsidiary

Malaysia's Axiata is reportedly in talks with Bharti Airtel to buy the Indian company's subsidiary in Sri Lanka. ...more.

Sri Lankan Networks Ordered to Block Unregistered Mobile Phones

Sri Lanka's Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRCSL) has decided to ban imported mobile phones that are not registered with the telecoms regulator, the TRC. ...more.

Mobitel Upgrades Network with Dual-Carrier HSPA+ Capacity

Sri Lanka's Mobitel says that it has upgraded its network to support Dual Carrier HSPA+ (DC-HSPA+) technology, ...more.

Fitch: Newer Sri Lanka Telcos Face Higher Risks in 2013

Fitch Ratings said in a special report released today that the 2013 outlook for incumbent Sri Lankan telecommunications companies (telcos) is stable, but that for smaller operators is negative. ...more.

Bharti Airtel Expands Free Roaming Service from Africa to Asia

Bharti Airtel has expanded the "One Network" service it inherited across Africa when it bought the Zain networks, to include India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. ...more.

ZTE Wins Sri Lankan Mobile Network Expansion Contract

ZTE says that it has won a US$40 million contract from Sri Lanka's Mobitel for 700 base stations as part of the mobile network's expansion plan. ...more.

IFC, Dialog Axiata to Train 3,000 Micro, Small Entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and Sri Lanka's Dialog Axiata are expanding their collaboration to increase the reach of the SME Toolkit, an online resource that provides training and management tool ...more.

Sri Lanka Telecom to Spend $46 Million Upgrading Mobile Network

Sri Lanka Telecom is to invest LKR 5 billion (US$46 million) in its mobile phone subsidiary, Mobitel for modernisation and expansion, a stock exchange filing said. ...more.

Fitch Highlights Over-crowding as Key Risk for Sri Lankan Telcos

Fitch Ratings has said in a report that 'overcrowding' remains the key medium-term risk to telecom operators (telcos) in Sri Lanka. ...more.

Sri Lankan Regulator to Test HSPA Download Speeds

Sri Lanka's telecoms regulator, the TRCSL says that it will be conducting tests on the mobile networks HSPA services to determine the average mobile broadband speeds offered. ...more.

Sri Lanka to Get First Trial LTE Network

Sri Lanka based mobile network, Mobitel says that it has signed a Board of Investment (BOI) agreement to trial and deploy a LTE network for the first time in Sri Lanka. ...more.

Slow 3G Growth Hurts Mobile Revenue in Developing Asia

Mobile subscriptions in the developing countries of Asia continue to grow dramatically, as operators like Bharti Airtel of India and China Mobile tap new consumer segments. However, revenue growth has been failing to keep pace. ...more.

Fitch Affirms Sri Lanka Telecom Debt Ratings with Positive Outlook

Sri Lanka Telecom's ratings continue to be supported by its position as the fixed-line incumbent in Sri Lanka and by its adequate market share, through subsidiary Mobitel, in a moderately growing mobile telecom market. ...more.

Woman Arrested With 70 Phones Strapped to her body

Indian customs officials have arrested a 30-year old woman from Sri Lanka who had tried to smuggle 70 mobile phones and three satellite phones into the country through Chennai airport. ...more.

Alcatel-Lucent Wins Sri Lankan Network Expansion Contract

Alcatel-Lucent has announced a contract with Etisalat's Sri Lanka subsidiary to significantly boost its GSM/EDGE network capacity and coverage and build its first 3G HPSA+ wireless all-IP broadband network ...more.

Fitch Affirms Sri Lanka Telecom at 'B+'; Revises Outlook to Positive

The revision of the Outlook is based on improvements observed in Sri Lanka's macroeconomic conditions following the end of the civil war, and from a moderation of the heavy price-based competition among telecom operators after regulatory intervention on tariffs. ...more.

Etisalat Mulling Sri Lankan Acquisition

The UAE's Etisalat is reported to be mulling a bid for Sri Lanka based CDMA network operator, Suntel. ...more.

15 Sri Lankans Killed While Using Mobile Phones on Train Tracks

At least 15 people using their mobile telephones while walking on railway tracks have been killed by trains in Sri Lanka this year, a railways official has told local media. ...more.

MNP Could Heighten Risk to Sri Lanka's Telecom Industry

The implementation of Mobile Number Portability (MNP) in Sri Lanka - as proposed by the local Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) - could further pressure industry profitability, ...more.