Sri Lanka’s 5G Auction raises concerns over regulatory oversight
The government is expediting the much-delayed implementation of commercial 5G, the next-generation mobile technology in Sri Lanka after holding the spectrum auction by mid-December 2025.
It is aimed at delivering ultra-fast speeds, low latency, and massive connectivity to power smart cities, advanced IoT, autonomous systems, and immersive digital experiences.
The Telecommunication Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) has issued the official notice of assignment, setting the timeline for operators to bid for national spectrum assets. But as the auction unfolds, questions have been raised by IT experts and industry stakeholders on procedural clarity, regulatory consistency, and even implications for competition and the public benefit.
Under the auction plan, operators have submitted bids on two 100 MHz blocks in the 3.5 GHz band marked principally for mobile broadband, and two 200 MHz blocks in the 27 GHz band targeted for high-capacity fixed wireless and enterprise services, official documents show. Bidding opened in the first half of December following the pre-qualification that was completed in November. The government expects revenues of more than Rs. 9 billion from license fees payable over 10 years, Finance Ministry sources confirmed.
The stakes are high for the telecom sector. Leading operators, including Dialog Axiata and SLT-Mobitel, have already rolled out extensive trial networks. Dialog, which launched 5G trials in 2018, recently extended coverage to 15 districts. “Extending our 5G trials across the country marks another important step in shaping Sri Lanka’s digital future,” Dialog Group CTO Ranga Kariyawasam said in a published statement.
TRCSL officials maintain that the auction is designed to ensure fair competition and public benefit. A senior TRCSL technical official noted that “the spectrum belongs to the people, and our responsibility is to ensure its most efficient use for national development”.
The Commission has emphasised infrastructure-sharing requirements to reduce duplication and lower long-term costs for consumers.However the auction has also attracted scrutiny from industry observers, who point to procedural inconsistencies in the Notice of Award (NoA) updates and changes to Radio Access Network (RAN) sharing clauses.
Regulatory analysts say such shifts can create uncertainty. One industry expert commented publicly that “predictability is essential for investor confidence in next-generation networks,” adding that transparent, stable rules help prevent market concentration and protect state assets.
The proposal to include fixed wireless use within the 5G allocation has added a new dimension to discussions on the balance between priorities of mobile and fixed-line use. Analysts warn that high-band spectrum could impact the competitiveness of state investments in fibre networks if those aren’t aligned with long-term infrastructure planning.
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