SLT given new NBN fibre backbone licence

Lanka Business Online reports that Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) has been formally licensed to operate new national fibre-optic transmission infrastructure – the National Backbone Network (NBN) – with wholesale access available equally to other operators. Director of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), Anusha Pelpita, stated after handing over the licence: ‘We have worked closely with SLT for the implementation of the NBN in order to fulfil the national objective of facilitating high speed broadband over the NBN.’ SLT group CEO Lalith De Silva added: ‘Our comprehensive fibre rollout provides the basis for the NBN to provide coverage, capacity and capability that allows for increased demand.’ SLT says its fibre transmission network now covers most parts of the island, including rural areas and the North and East regions, while it plans to cover all 329 divisional secretariats and 24 districts in the country with high speed broadband connectivity over the NBN within the next five years.