Mobitel-Ericsson MoU for first 5G Island of Innovation

Sri Lanka Telecom and Mobitel Chairman P. G. Kumarasinghe Sirisena exchanging the MoU with Ericsson Sri Lanka head Denis Brunetti in the 

presence of the Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure Minister Harin Fernando

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• Mobitel, Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure Ministry partners with Ericsson for the first 5G project in South Asia

Ericsson in collaboration with Mobitel and the Ministry of Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure has formally signed the 5G Island of Innovation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Colombo.

The MoU signed on 10 March, representing a landmark strategic ICT partnership that aims to bring 5G Internet of Things (IoT) innovation and entrepreneurship to Sri Lanka for the first time in South Asia. Mobitel was also the pioneer in South Asia to launch a Super 3.5G network, to successfully demonstrate HSPA + MIMO technology and successfully trial 4G-LTE and 4.5G-LTE Advanced Pro technology. 

The 5G Island of Innovation environment will further advance the nation’s ICT skills and capabilities, supporting the ambition to transform Sri Lanka into a digital and knowledge based society, driving new and increased employment opportunities enabled by ICT ecosystem innovations.

“I commend Ericsson and Mobitel for taking the lead as responsible corporate citizens and long term nation building partners to the people of Sri Lanka. We are delighted to have partnered with Ericsson and Mobitel in forging this pivotal 5G Island of Innovation collaboration, which ultimately aims to leverage the power of home grown ICT innovation and entrepreneurship to create new employment opportunities and reduce the digital divide in the country,”  said Telecommunication & Digital Infrastructure Minister Harin Fernando.

“Indeed, the Ministry of Telecommunication & Digital Infrastructure’s ambition is to leverage the 5G Island of Innovation at the Mobitel Innovation Centre to stimulate entrepreneurial ICT ecosystem collaborations that combine the complementary skills and capabilities of a broader cross-section of ICT players for the benefit of all Sri Lankans,” he added.

Ericsson Sri Lanka Head Denis Brunetti said: “In recognition of the enduring nation building partnership Ericsson has shared with the people of Sri Lanka for over 20 years, it gives me great pleasure to join hands with Mobitel and the Ministry of Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure in realising the country’s inaugural 5G Island of Innovation strategic partnership. Ericsson will implement its 5G test bed technology in the Mobitel Innovation Centre in Colombo with the prime purpose of jointly creating a 5G IoT ecosystem designed to provide Sri Lankan ICT innovators an environment to develop and test 5G IoT applications and services.”

SLT and Mobitel Chairman P.G. Kumarasingha Sirisena said: “We are delighted to contribute our state of the art Mobitel Innovation Centre to the 5G Island of Innovation initiative, providing a suitable environment for 5G IoT development in partnership with Ericsson and the Ministry of Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure. Mobitel is committed to creating an environment that is conducive to the generation of new and exciting mobile broadband products and services, adding value to the ICT landscape and our customers across Sri Lanka.” 

Through their long-standing history in the Sri Lankan market, Ericsson and Mobitel have remained diligently focused on serving their shared interests by leveraging their leading ICT capabilities for the greater good of the nation.