Sri Lanka’s Mobitel, the mobile division of Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), has chosen IPX services from SAP Mobile Services to deliver international 3G and 4G LTE roaming to customers. Through the agreement, Mobitel can interconnect with other mobile service providers worldwide over the IPX roaming network provided by SAP. Nalin Perera, senior general manager of marketing at Mobitel, said the deal was motivated by ‘an exponential growth in the volume of data being consumed over mobile networks,’ while adding that ‘customers expect the same level of data connectivity when at home and abroad. SAP’s IPX network will connect us to a larger community of service providers. This will help us mutually enhance our customers’ mobile roaming experience by allowing them to access data over these networks while roaming and vice-versa.’ Matthew Tonkin, vice president, IPX, SAP Mobile Services, said: ‘Sri Lanka’s telecommunications industry, especially its mobile telephony sector, is one of the more evolved in the region, offering 4G LTE services ahead of its regional peers. Having worked with Mobitel since 2004, we welcome them into our global LTE roaming community. We remain committed to expanding this community even further and driving innovation that provides the highest value to mobile operators.’
Mobitel also this week launched its ‘mCash’ service for post- and pre-paid customers, allowing users to transfer and withdraw money at mCash merchant points, supported by partnerships with the Commercial Bank of Ceylon and Deutsche Bank.