By Sri Lanka Telecom
Sri Lanka’s leading ICT solutions provider and National Backbone operator, Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) is aggressively pursuing new markets in the region. Building international connectivity is a key aspect of this strategy. SLT’s global coverage was significantly strengthened via multiple undersea optical fibre cable systems: SEA-ME-WE 3, SEA-ME-WE 4, Bharat-Lanka (between India and Sri Lanka) and Dhiraagu (between Maldives and Sri Lanka). Sri Lanka’s geographical location makes it a natural nexus for communications in the Indian Ocean basin and helps ensure that the country plays a key role in the process of unfolding new technologies across the region.
Following a recent upgrade to the SEA-ME-WE 4 by SLT, capacity increased by 3 folds that enabled the system to accommodate much higher speeds using 100G technology, the cable with higher capacity became available for commercial use at the end of 2014. Cable commissioned in 2005, the SEA-ME-WE 4 system is an ultra-high-capacity fibre-optic submarine cable linking South-East Asia to Western Europe via the Middle East. Utilising linear fibre network architecture, this 18,000 km cable is equipped with a total of 16 landing stations. The SEA-ME-WE 4 cable network is owned by a consortium of 17 leading telecom carriers from 15 countries. SLT has developed important partnerships through its involvement in this project. Key among them are the relationships forged with near neighbours Bharti Infotel and Tata Communications (India) and Dhiraagu (Maldives).
Mr. Dileepa Wijesundera, Group CEO of SLT commented that, “SLT investments continued to further strengthen country’s Global Connectivity as a key strategy devised to support the national objective of making Sri Lanka the Digital Hub of the region. Also the company has focused on capacities required for future data demand. SLT has become a member of the 20-member international consortium that owns the SEA-ME-WE 5 international undersea cable system and is currently in the process of implementing yet another future proof project to serve country’s data demand for the next 25 years”.
