Dialog Launches First Mobile 4G-LTE Service

South Asia’s First Mobile LTE-FD 4G Service in City of Colombo

Dialog Axiata PLC announced Tuesday 2nd April 2013, 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 services 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 consumer 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.