TRC to allocate additional WiMAX, LTE spectrum next month, regulator source says

According to sources at the regulator quoted by the Business Times, Sri Lanka’s Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRC) plans to allocate frequencies for Long Term Evolution (LTE) mobile broadband services alongside additional WiMAX frequencies next month. Dialog Telekom, the island’s mobile market leader, has indicated its interest in the ‘4G’ frequencies to be offered, the source added. Mobile WiMAX licences are set to be awarded to two new data operators with the aim of commencing operations by February. TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database notes that India’s Reliance Communications (RCOM), which lost out to fellow Indian firm Bharti Airtel in Sri Lanka’s fifth mobile licence auction, still remains interested in entering the island’s mobile sector via a joint venture with existing Sri Lankan broadband and IDD telephony provider Electroteks, named RTEC Mobile Lanka. Meanwhile, 3.5GHz band WiMAX broadband wireless access (BWA) frequency licences are already held by Dialog Telekom, Lanka Bell, Suntel and Sri Lanka Telecom (via Sky Network).