Financial Times

Mobitel launches extensive expansion in Stage Two
Mobitel (Pvt) Ltd is investing in additional mobile communications infrastructure to further extend its capacity to service a potential one million customers with over 600 base stations by the end of the third quarter of 2006, the company said last week.

It signed a supply contract with Ericsson to purchase an Ericsson AXE 810 switching platform to more than double the company's existing subscriber Capacity and Coverage.

This is Mobitel's second network expansion since its commencement of the initial GSM rollout at the end of 2003. Brought forward due to an increasing subscriber base that has jumped almost threefold in approximately one year, this investment buys the company a solution that will allow it to further rollout its GSM platform throughout Sri Lanka.

The investment will allow the addition of around 300 base stations and the capacity to service 600,000 additional customers to its already strong network of 310 base stations and a 400,000 subscriber capacity. The AXE 810 switching platform also allows for a 900 Mhz and 1800 Mhz dual band with this over layer of two bands giving the network the opportunity to further improve its clarity, call continuity and quality, the statement said.

Mobitel Chairman Anil Obeyesekere emphasised the need to provide cellular services such as Singtel, BSNL, PLDT, etc. "As a fully integrated service provider, it is imperative to cover a wide area through expansion of Capacity and Coverage. This expansion programme would provide more free access to the North and East of Sri Lanka as well as to the rest of the country," he said.

Mobitel (Pvt) Ltd is a 100% wholly owned Sri Lankan company. It was the third mobile communications network to start up in Sri Lanka quickly rising to an undisputed leadership position in its customers' hearts and minds as the ultimate network for coverage.

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