Existing SLT Broadband (ADSL) users can use the same username and password to connect to any of SLT’s public Wi-Fi Hotspots. Main cities will be powered with high speed public Wi-Fi hotspots. Business premises empowered to provide high-speed internet access to their visitors. All type of Wi-Fi supported laptop, tab and smartphone users to benefit. Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), the national ICT solutions provider and the largest communication backbone network operator in the country announced that it has introduced its cutting-edge “carrier-grade” public Wi-Fi technology in Sri Lanka. All Sri Lankans are now able to experience the next evolution in wireless broadband connectivity in the very near future, as SLT expands Sri Lanka’s first carrier-grade Wi-Fi network. The official ceremony in this regard was held on 17th May marking World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) at the world famous elephant orphanage in Pinnawela premises in the presence of Hon Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Minister of Telecommunication and IT. Hon. Mahipala Herath, Chief Minister of Sabaragamuwa Province, Mr. S.M. Gotabaya Jayarathne, Secretary to the Ministry of Telecommunications & IT and Mr. Lalith de Silva, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Sri Lanka Telecom. Mr. Lalith De Silva, Group Chief Executive Officer of SLT, Hon. Mahipala Herath, Chief Minister of Sabaragamuwa Province, Hon. Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Minister of Telecommunications & IT at the ceremony held at Pinnawala recently in the presence of several VIPs, Invitees and SLT Senior Officials. The company will be further expanding its public Wi-Fi hotspot service, which is the Next Generation Wireless Broadband Access (WBA) technology to expand and improve the overall quality of the country’s broadband footprint to empower more citizens in the country with a superior broadband experience. The company believes ‘SLT Wi-Fi’ solution is set to revolutionise the mobile computing experience for end-users. Commonly known busy places like airports, hotels and cafés with Wi-Fi connectivity, an increasing number of enterprises, SMEs and retailers are looking to offer Wi-Fi as a value added service, so customers and visitors will have a better experience for shopping etc. Through SLT Wi-Fi Hotspots high-end enterprises, private and public institutions, SMEs and micro businesses also will get new opportunities to tap into new business models as well as to improve their businesses and attract more customers simply by creating an inviting environment for customers and visitors to spend more time within or around the premises. Existing SLT Broadband users will get immense freedom to get connect to any of SLT’s public Wi-Fi Hotspots by using the same Broadband username and password which they use at home or office to connect to the internet. Connecting to SLT Wi-Fi Hotspots is possible with any Wi-Fi capable mobile or smart device when travelling, shopping, meeting friends, at an event,...etc. Hon Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Minister of Telecommunication and IT, expressing his views, said “Today, the need for more options for ICT, connectivity and bandwidth is very much needed to move forward with the country’s development goals. GoSL is very clear on the country’s ICT strategy and we are not only confined to urban town areas when introducing new technology and ICT services. We are also bringing technological advancements even to the farthest rural areas of the country. This is one of the classic examples where SLT has introduced carrier-grade Wi-Fi technology in Pinnawala, an area that is away from the highly commercial City Colombo. SLT’s active participation in industry level developments are very much needed at this stage of the country’s growth. I believe SLT’s public Wi-Fi deployment is one of the most significant enhancements as well as a major milestone in the telecommunications sector in Sri Lanka. I wish to congratulate SLT for their efforts in deploying state-of-the-art ICT platforms for the benefit of the industry as a whole.” Mr. Lalith de Silva, Group CEO of SLT, making his comment on this industry milestone, said “Users of carrier-grade Wi-Fi will be able to access rich media content, or data intensive enterprise applications while on the go, in a way that wasn’t previously possible on standard public Wi-Fi. For retail environments, this has the potential to open up a world of immersive, interactive shopping experiences for customers, and it will also allow them to share their experiences online in the most efficient and cost effective manner. Business users, on the other hand, will benefit from a high speed, reliable connection back into the company network to conduct faster, more efficient business while on the move”. He further said, “Carrier-grade Wi-Fi network provides a host of direct, targeted marketing opportunities for shop owners, companies and big brands within these environments. With our extensive country-wide fibre optic network, we’re able to provide the end-to-end infrastructure required delivering carrier-grade Wi-Fi to business locations as well as crowd-sourcing public places. We are aiming to adopt an aggressive expansion strategy for this solution, and already have a pipeline of additional retail sites that we will be launching very soon. We therefore expect that all feasible strategic locations connected to economic hub locations will be equipped with this solution to accelerate economic development in the very near future. We need to capitalise on our carrier grade Wi-Fi network with its expansion plans to ensure good-quality wireless broadband for all citizens of the country. As a nation we all should focus on sustainability in spite of challenges, taking in to account how broadband can accelerate change across all key strategic and economic goals of the country.” One of the key strategic objectives of the SLT Group is to drive broadband-based consumer and enterprise services by expanding the broadband footprint via Next Generation Network and National Backbone Network and Next generation access of ADSL2+, VDSL2, Optical Fibre, Carrier-Grade Wi-Fi and both fixed and mobile 4G LTE technologies. SLT has already taken proactive steps to invest in futuristic global connectivity via new SEA-ME-WE 5 cable system, upgrading the SEA-ME-WE 4 cable system and expanding the network to bring gigantic capacity to Sri Lanka looking at future focussed data demands