Redefining Connectivity: How 5G will Shape the Future of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is finally at the cusp of deploying 5G technology, taking positive steps more than five years after it was introduced globally and adopted.

- Jennifer Paldano Goonewardane.

According to Ranga Kariyawasam, Group Chief Technology Officer of Dialog Axiata, the deployment of 5G is a technological upgrade and a strategic enabler that can foster economic growth by attracting foreign investment, encouraging entrepreneurship, and positioning Sri Lanka as a competitive force in the global digital economy. Speaking with Business Today, he elaborated on the tremendous potential that Sri Lanka could reap by embracing the transformative power of 5G, pointing out that Sri Lanka can unlock new development opportunities, create an efficient public service and a more connected and efficient business environment, and solidify its position as a dynamic player in the global marketplace.

What makes Sri Lanka a suitable market for the rollout of 5G?

Historically, our industry has followed ten-year technology cycles, as evidenced by the introduction of 2G in the 1990s, the transition to 3G at the turn of the millennium, and the advancement to 4G around 2010—cycles that Dialog was quick to embrace. The early global deployments of 5G began in 2018, and we are now preparing to deploy it in Sri Lanka. Dialog has a strong track record of technology adoption, from implementing the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) with 2G and later 3G, setting a precedent as the first to adopt these technologies in South Asia. That was followed by the deployment of 4G in 2011, coinciding with India’s rollout of the same technology.

However, Sri Lanka is over five years behind the global technology cycle with regard to 5G. While the world has rapidly advanced with 5G, it is no longer considered a new technology. Unfortunately, Sri Lanka is lagging, not only in comparison to global standards but also within the regional context, due to delays in deploying 5G technology.