AFFORDABLE broadband of ADEQUATE
quality THROUGHOUT Sri Lanka
Buddika Wijetunga
Isura Silva
Mahesh de Andrado
How to engage in broadband policy and regulatory processes|25th – 28th September 2015
Popular Broadband technologies in Sri Lanka
Wireless
DSL
Optical
Fiber
Satellite
Current scenario
Do we all have broadband access ?
SLT
Fixed Broadband
Mobitel
Broadband Coverage
Dialog
Broadband Coverage
Major investments in Mobile Broadband
Mobile Indicators
Current scenario
Do we all have broadband access ?
Number of internet users & Incrementing rate
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
-5
Incrementing rate
Internet users (per 100 people)
Criteria: Internet users are individuals who have used the Internet (from any location) in the last 12 months. Internet can be
used via a computer, mobile phone, personal digital assistant, games machine, digital TV etc.
Source : World bank data base , World Development Indicators
Is broadband affordable to all Sri Lankans ?
Source : Measuring the Information Society Report 2014-ITU
Is broadband affordable to all Sri Lankans ?
Price of Broadband
as % of GNI p.c.
PPP$
GNI p.c.,USD,2013*
Mobile-broadband prices, prepaid computer-based 1 GB, 2013
0.98
7.16
3’170
Mobile-broadband prices, postpaid computer-based 1 GB, 2013
1.15
8.38
3’170
Mobile-broadband prices, prepaid handset-based 500 MB, 2013
0.98
7.16
3'170
Mobile-broadband prices, postpaid handset-based 500 MB, 2013
0.57
4.16
3'170
Source : Measuring the Information Society Report 2014-ITU
Are we getting ADEQUATE quality ?
Parameters we should consider
–
–
–
–
–
Download and Upload speed
Latency
Packet loss
Jitter
Network availability
How can we measure these ?
– Special Hardware devices (Eg : Samknows Whitebox)
– Testing softwares
Note : Software method is not much accurate than the hardware method
but it’s a cost effective way
Are we getting ADEQUATE quality
• Currently used method by TRC
Are we getting ADEQUATE quality
•
•
•
•
•
Measuring Download speed is not enough.
Quality may vary from place to another place
Quality is highly depends on transmission medium
Quality may vary depends on the user device limitations
Overall from users perspective Broadband quality in Sri Lanka is not adequate
Are we getting ADEQUATE quality
•
•
•
•
•
Measuring Download speed is not enough.
Quality may vary from place to another place
Quality is highly depends on transmission medium
Quality may vary depends on the user device limitations
Overall from users perspective Broadband quality in Sri Lanka is not adequate
Key highlights of the Policy Brief
1. Identification of and publishing of areas lacking broadband access and the waiving
off or provision of subsidies for the initial and monthly rental/s charged to telecom
operators.
2. Implementation of transmission infrastructure sharing mechanism and
transmission medium sharing.
3. Creating a market for 3G and 4G services to be facilitated by introducing the
benefits of using said technologies. Demand side stimulation should be developed
further to solidify this recommendation.
4. The TRC should establish a standardized QoS (Quality of Service)measuring
mechanism and make said details available to the general public.
5. Launch ICT training programmes and incubator programmes for those in rural areas
6. Identification of people who lack financial resources and providing them with
subsidies and/or free broadband access in order to cultivate their skills and help
boost the economy.
7. Make Sri Lanka open to R&D projects in order to further enhance the connectivity
of affordable broadband to all areas of Sri Lanka. Expansion of the Google Loon
project can also be added to this recommendation.
What is broadband ?
A high-capacity enabling ICT platform that
improves the variety, utility, and value of services
and applications offered by a wide range of
providers, to the benefit of users, society, and
multiple sectors of the economy. (entire
economy)
Source: Broadband Strategies Handbook, world bank group.
An effective ICT policy will address all parts
of the eco system
Why Government should invest ?
Broadband enables job creation through three main
channels
1. Direct jobs created to deploy the broadband
infrastructure
2. indirect and induced jobs created from this
activity
3. Additional jobs created as a result of broadband
network externalities and spillovers (Katz 2009)
Evidence – Broadband strengthens
economy
Easier access to information that increases efficiencies
and productivity in the economy,
“about a 1.38 percentage point increase in GDP for
each 10 percent increase in broadband penetration”
between 2000 and 2006 (Qiang and Rossotto 2009, 45)
McKinsey and Company estimated that “a 10 percent
increase in broadband household penetration delivers a
boost to a country’s GDP that ranges from 0.1 percent
to 1.4 percent” (Buttkereit et al. 2009).
Government SHOULD and should NOT
• Maximize competition, removing entry barriers
and improve the incentives for private investment
• provide well-justified public funding interventions
- promote growth of underdeveloped markets
• NOT compete with or displace private sector
investment.
• Government should maintain a level playing field
for competition by avoiding favoring one company
(example: India broadband plan )
THANK YOU