As Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) was aiming towards instigating the construction of a new state-of-the-art Internet Data Center that would enhance the provision of a secure and reliable data hosting facility to Sri Lanka, the Uptime Institute had recently awarded SLT with the design certification required to carry through the initiative. Having received the go-ahead from global data centre regulating body, SLT is set to construct a large scale state of the art and energy efficient Data Center with world renowned Uptime Tier 3 Certification.

SLT will also strategize the inclusion of a Gold Rated Green building certification (Gold Rating) which has been planned to be obtained from the Green Building Council of Sri Lanka. The world recognized Tier 3 and green building certifications stand towards the regulation of contributing to reduce the carbon footprint alongside the role of providing the best services to all customers.

Peter D'Almeida - Managing Director/Chief Executive, N-able (Private) Limited, Patrick Chan - Senior Director Uptime Institute South Asia, John Duffin -  Managing Director Uptime Institute, South Asia, Dileepa Wijesundera - Group Chief Executive Officer of SLT, Priyantha Fernandez - Chief Network Officer of SLT and Kiththi Perera – Group Chief Enterprise and Wholesale Officer of SLT.

SLT hopes to inculcate tactical development to the location of Pitipana, Homagama and the surrounding areas in terms of attracting new business opportunities in Business Continuity and recovery areas. The new Internet Data Center (iDC) in Pitipana will be constructed as a 3 storied building spaning an area of 5800 sqm and will be located 24 kms away from the SLT HQ Data Center. The iDC can also be reached in 8.4 km once leaving the nearest expressway exit.

Business establishments will therefore, benefit from cost effective measures that would also enable them to outsource ICT functions with SLT’s Internet Data Centre and stray past in-house data management. The iDC will also provide competent grounds for the requirements of Enterprise Customers Disaster Recovery (DR). A good expanse of the the service facility will allocate 500 racks with a power density of 5 kW per rack. Companies can now gradually embrace the opportunity of outsourcing to the cloud and become part of the blueprint of the new iDC.

The iDC will therefore assist in drawing down global business opportunity to the country at the same time as providing a secure and consistent data hosting facilities in alliance with the Government Cloud. Anyone who reside or operate from the city limits of Colombo can easily access the new iDC, which will be about 32 kms away. Arriving directly from the Bandaranaike International Airport, tourists or business travelers can reach the iDC via the expressway in as little as 45 minutes.

With Sri Lanka on the pathway of achieving a status as a global information hub, SLT plays a major role in stepping up the objective of developing digital infrastructure facilities in Sri Lanka. SLT has also recognized the significance of increasing the capacity of Data Centres in Sri Lanka in the near future if the country is to service a diversified level of demand in the market. This specific entity is being deemed as a vital milestone that has to be achieved within this influential project.

Commenting on the upcoming iDC development, Sri Lanka Telecom Group CEO, Mr. Dileepa Wijesundera said, “ This will spell a revolutionized approach in Sri Lanka’s next step into digitalization and e-Transformational progression. It is vital to note that Sri Lanka is one of the main countries in the region to have embraced this swift approach into the internet-of-things. The government has recognized the need and significance of progressing further and placing the country high up in the region as a major digital hub. At SLT, this establishment drives towards the cloud strategic vision of evolving from the basis of connectivity to the phase of service orientation”

Mr. Dileepa Wijesundera also emphasized on Sri Lanka’s stance in upgrading its digital landscape through the concept of e-Transformation which would not only support large businesses to progress but small and medium sectors (SMEs) as well. This revolution in the provision of services would also pose as an advantage for BPOs and KPOs that specialize in the communications and services sector in both, the Private and Public sectors alike.