Mobitel, the mobile subsidiary of Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), has completed a further demonstration of fifth-generation technology at the recent grand opening of the Ancient Technology Museum in Polonnaruwa. Carried out as part of Mobitel’s strategy to provide ‘a new lease of life to national heritage’ through the adoption of digital technologies, the cellco says it should ensure its 5G network will deliver ultra-fast connectivity in Colombo and other major cities across Sri Lanka. The SLT-controlled operator plans to spend upwards of USD50 million in 2019 to deploy a 5G network and to further develop its existing infrastructure.
As reported by TeleGeography’s CommsUpdate, earlier this month Mobitel completed a series of 5G trials using a commercially available 5G-equipped smartphone, achieving data speeds in excess of 1.55Gbps. The trial took place on 7 June and was verified by benchmarking firm Ookla, used Huawei network equipment at 3.6GHz, by dint of trial spectrum allocation from the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL).