Terrestrial Digital TV set to boost digital economy
Sri Lanka is shifting from analogue to digital TV broadcasting to modernise its infrastructure.
The Ministry of Health and Mass Media, in collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Economy, has announced the launch of Sri Lanka’s transition from analogue to digital terrestrial television broadcasting—a transformative step aimed at modernising the nation’s broadcasting infrastructure and enabling the rollout of next-generation mobile technologies.
This strategic shift will be implemented with financial assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Deputy Minister of Digital Economy, Eng. Eranga Weeraratne stated that the digital terrestrial television initiative will significantly reduce spectrum usage—currently occupied by 26 analogue TV channels—liberating the 700 MHz band and VHF Band currently used for TV broadcasting. This newly available spectrum is earmarked for the deployment of 5G and other advanced mobile services, a key enabler of Sri Lanka’s digital transformation agenda.
“The project has identified 16 tower locations to ensure full island-wide coverage for digital broadcasting. While the initial plan involved constructing many new towers, a recent site survey by the Japanese project consultant, alongside the Digital TV Project Team, revealed that existing towers owned by the Broadcasters, Telecommunication Service providers, TRCSL, and the Ministry of Defence could be used instead. This decision will result in substantial cost savings for the government,” Mr. Weeraratne said.
The shift to digital broadcasting is not only a technological upgrade but also an economic opportunity. The enhanced spectrum efficiency will support ultra-reliable, low-latency 5G networks, critical for powering industrial-scale Internet of Things (IoT) applications and enabling smart services across sectors. Furthermore, this is a great enabler, especially for enhancing broadband penetration in rural areas. The government anticipates that this advancement will attract increased foreign direct investment (FDI) in the digital infrastructure space.
Discussions regarding digital television implementation have been ongoing for over a decade. The collaboration with JICA marks a renewed commitment to realising this long-awaited transformation through a concessional financing arrangement.
Sri Lanka has also been preparing for the introduction of 5G with the Telecom Regulatory Authority planning to auction the 5G spectrum space within the year to improve mobile broadband connectivity, quality, and speed. These infrastructure enhancements are essential to support the government’s vision of expanding the nation’s digital economy to US$15 billion.
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