The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) says there has been tremendous growth in the use of fixed lines and mobile telephones.
According to the TRC Director General Priyantha Kariyapperuma, fixed line telephone growth between 2000 and 2008 increased to 3.44 million from 0.76 million and that mobile telephone subscribers leapt to 11.5 million from 0.43 million during the same period. The cumulative investment in the telephone industry was Rs.218.3 million in 2007, up from Rs.100.1 million in 2000.
Speaking at the Key Person’s Forum organized by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) last week, Mr. Kariyapperuma was quoted in a press release saying Sri Lanka is far ahead of other countries in using mobile telecommunication technology but that it lags behind in getting the advantages of satellite communications and has to pay six times more for such communication facility. According to the press release, Mr. Kariyapperuma, speaking on Mobile Commerce (M-Commerce) policies and benefits to SME’s, said M-Commerce is a simple communication tool which uses a network that provides access to direct marketing business.
The press release stated that this would enable SME’s to obtain market information such as market prices and market alerts (SMS messages). Mr. Kariyapperuma said that in overcoming traditional barriers digital content goes mobile and it facilitates financial transfers. |
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