Sri Lanka’s largest fixed line telecom firm, Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), is now undergoing a complete transformation for the first time of becoming a more market driven customer centric while leapfrogging into a strong broadband backbone to deliver the technology to all segments of the society, according to its CEO Greg Young during an exclusive interview in Colombo with the Business Times.
Since assuming office in February 2009, Mr Young has had high ambitions to make SLT as the main telecom service provider for all Sri Lankans seamlessly connected with world class information, communication and entertainment services. He is of the view that transforming SLT’s traditional network to a Next Generation Network (NGN) is the only way forward.
SLT has also made a considerable investment in broadband technology, offering a wide variety of broadband packages to suit the varying needs of consumers. The company expects medium to long term benefits from this ambitious transformation programme aimed at driving the company through customer focused strategies whilst improving the efficiencies of the company, with medium to long term benefits from this transformation.
Answering a question raised on Britsh Telecom (BT) involvement in this transformation and restructuring programme, Mr. Young said that BT consultants who began their work in 2007 during SLT’s previous management by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) had made several recommendations and the company is implementing some of it, after considering its merits and demerits.
Picture shows Greig Young with SLT officials when SLT’s optical fibre cable system connecting Jaffna to the South was launched recently. |
He added that a new regional organizational structure is being implemented in accordance with recommendations made by BT consultants to improve SLT service and meet market demands where SLT regional offices will be given full powers to conduct business under a chief regional officer.
The restructuring process of SLT has been initiated with a view to transform it into a global IP solution provider and sustain the growth of the company. He said that SLT employees will be given due promotions in accordance with their skills qualifications and experience and the placements in regional offices will be made giving priority to employees who are residing in these regional areas.
He disclosed that the SLT will extend its high speed and ultra reliable Optical Fiber cable network by 10,000 km by the end of this year and another 5,000 km next year, covering the entire island including the North and East.
Fixed line operators all over the world have been pushed to NGN to survive. Advantages of the NGN are that networks become simple, it reduces locations and there are lot of cost savings. It unloads the value and the capacity of the network infrastructure. Since finding capital expenditure for the convergence is an issue, the company should invest in NGN, as it will be a profitable investment, he added. With this transformation programme, the company expects to see a noticeable change throughout the organization – including the organization culture, attitudes and perceptions of employees as well as the work environment.
The optical fibre cable system connecting the Jaffna peninsula to the south of the country via the A9 main route has been completed. As part of its continuing network investment to support the growing demand for communication services, SLTD initiated, after the end of the conflict, this fibre optic cable project to connect Mannar, Vavuniya, Trincomalee and Jaffna along the A9 highway. In addition new telephone exchanges at Mankulam and Mulaitivu, located in the northern part of Sri Lanka, will enhance basic communication facilities and broadband coverage for customers in the areas, he said. These new telephone exchanges are part of SLT’s ongoing effort to drive innovation and extend its broadband network throughout the island.
Mr. Young noted that SLT, the only wire-line broadband service provider in Sri Lanka, will continue to focus on its broadband strategy of driving and capturing growth in this important sector, which positions the Group well to deliver additional information and entertainment services. SLT’s ADSL customer base will continue to expand counting on growth from old technology for the time being till the network will be cautiously overhauled, he said.
SLT is also moving to expand wireless broadband service as well through its diverse access network strategy. He revealed that there was growth in Fixed Telephone line and CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) fixed access phone users in the island during the last few years , but he said that he cannot recollect the numbers off hand. SLT is also going ahead with the programme of replacing their network equipment. The planned network will be much like the Internet where information, pictures and sound travel in packets, he said. |
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