Dialog launches South Asia’s first mobile 4G-LTE service

Dialog Axiata Plc yesterday announced the launch of Sri Lanka’s first commercial mobile 4G-LTE service.

The announcement of launch of commercial services commencing with the City of Colombo follows close on the company securing of a 10 MHz tranche of 1800 MHz LTE spectrum auctioned by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka.

The launch of mobile 4G LTE services will supplement Dialog’s 3G HSPA+ high speed mobile internet services, and records a regional first for Sri Lanka, as South Asia’s first mobile FD-LTE service.

Mobile users can now obtain a 4G SIM card from any Dialog Service Centre, and can thereby extend their 3G HSPA+ high speed mobile broadband experience to next generation services within Dialog’s LTE coverage areas. Dialog’s Mobile 4G-LTE coverage will be available in the City of Colombo at launch, and will be expanded to other major cities and towns across Sri Lanka going forward.

Dialog’s 4G Mobile network is based on FD-LTE technology, and will deliver peak data speeds extending to over 50 Mbps on FD-LTE 1800 MHz band 3 compatible mobile devices.  Some of the mobile devices that are compatible with Dialog’s LTE network include Samsung Note II LTE – GT-N7105, Samsung SIII – LTE, LG Optimus LTE, Sony Xperia V LTE and the Huawei Ascend P1 LTE.

In addition to LTE compatible smart phones and tablets, the LTE network can be accessed via compatible dongles such as the Huawei E398U. Dialog will market the Huawei E 398U via its service centres at a price of Rs. 16,000, and will expand its device portfolio to include the Huawei E3276S dongle during the course of April 2013.



Sharing his views on the launch of Sri Lanka’s first mobile 4G LTE service, Group Chief Executive of Dialog Axiata PLC Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya said: “It is indeed an honour and privilege to lead Sri Lanka’s mobile industry in to the 4G era with the launch of Dialog’s 4G mobile service in the city of Colombo. The progressive spectrum management policies of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka has once again ensured that Sri Lankan consumers will enjoy the region’s most advanced suite of mobile, fixed and nomadic 4G LTE Services. Dialog will continue to invest aggressively in building a world class portfolio of broadband services for our customers based on mobile and fixed LTE, 3G HSPA+, Wi-Fi and fibre optic connectivity. We are singularly committed to supporting the Government of Sri Lanka in its vision of empowering all Sri Lankan citizens with broadband connectivity, and accordingly we will ensure that our broadband services are available across Sri Lanka and affordable to all.”

Dialog’s fully-owned subsidiary Dialog Broadband Networks (DBN) launched Sri Lanka’s first fixed 4G-LTE service in December 2012 based on TD-LTE technology operating in the 2300 MHz band. The pioneering 4G service extends high speed fixed broadband services to Sri Lankan homes and enterprises.

The launch of Dialog’s Mobile 4G-LTE service follows soon after the company was named by Sri Lankan consumers as the ‘Internet Service Provider of the Year’ and the ‘Telecommunications Service Provider of the Year’ at the SLIM-Nielsen People’s Choice Awards 2013.

Dialog Axiata PLC, a subsidiary of Axiata Group Berhad (Axiata), operates Sri Lanka’s largest and fastest growing mobile telecommunications network. The company is also one of the largest listed companies on the Colombo Stock Exchange in terms of market capitalisation.

Dialog has been at the forefront of innovation in the mobile industry in Sri Lanka since the late ’90s, propelling the nation’s mobile telephony infrastructure to a level of advancement on par with the developed world. The company delivers advanced mobile telephony and high speed mobile broadband services to a subscriber base in excess of 7.8 million Sri Lankans, via a 2.5G and 3G/3.5G networks. The company holds the distinction of being the first service provider in South Asia to launch 3G and HSPA+ services.

Dialog also provides a comprehensive suite of international roaming services across a global footprint comprising of more than 200 countries, and operates a wide portfolio of international telecommunication services, including but not limited to retail and wholesale international voice and data services.

Dialog Axiata supplements its market leading position in the mobile telecommunications sector with a robust footprint and market presence in Sri Lanka’s fixed telecommunications and digital television markets through its fully-owned subsidiaries Dialog Broadband Networks Ltd. (DBN) and Dialog Television Ltd. (DTV).

DBN is Sri Lanka’s second largest fixed telecommunications provider. DBN serves residential and enterprise customers with voice, broadband, lease lines and customised telecommunication services. DBN has the distinction of being the first telecommunications operator in Sri Lanka to launch 4th Generation LTE high speed broadband services. DBN is also a leading provider of Radio and Optical Fibre based transmission infrastructure facilities.

DTV operates a Direct-to-Home (DTH) digital satellite TV service and is the market leader in Sri Lanka’s pay TV sector. DTV supports a broad array of international and local content in both Standard Definition (SD) and High Definition (HD) formats alongside a wide portfolio of Sri Lankan television channels and delivers high quality infotainment to a viewer base in excess of 275,000 Sri Lankan households.

The Dialog Group has also been aggressive in its pursuit of a leadership position in the provision of digital services. Dialog Axiata PLC has the distinction of being the first mobile operator in Sri Lanka to be awarded a mobile payments license by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, based on which it operates eZ Cash, the country’s pioneering mobile money service.

The Dialog Group also established a position of strength in Sri Lanka’s digital commerce space through a joint venture (Digital Commerce Lanka) encompassing Sri Lanka’s leading daily deals site Anything.lk and the incumbent e-commerce properties of the Dialog Group wow.lk, ibuy.lk and tradenet.lk.

Dialog remains Sri Lanka’s largest Foreign Direct Investor (FDI) with investments totalling over US$ 1 billion. Dialog is an ISO 9001 certified company and has received numerous local and international awards including the National Quality Award, Sri Lanka Business Excellence Award, and three successive GSM World Awards.

The company has also earned the distinction of being ranked No. 1 on Sri Lanka’s Corporate Accountability Ratings for four years in succession and the Dialog brand being voted as the winner of Sri Lanka’s People’s Awards for the Most Preferred Telecommunications Brand, Sri Lanka’s Most Valuable Brand of the Year by Brand Finance and winner of the SLIM-Nielson People’s Service Brand of the Year, SLIM-Nielson People’s Telecom Brand of the Year and joint winner of the SLIM-Nielson People’s Youth Brand of the Year.