Airtel – now amongst the top telecos maintaining the highest 3G site ratio across the sub -continent

Bharti Airtel, a leading global telecommunications company with operations in 20 countries across Asia and Africa, today announced that the company will continue to invest heavily on network expansion with the objective of giving Airtel customers located in Urban, Sub-Urban and Rural pockets a better Internet experience. Bharti Airtel Lanka’s Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director Jinesh Hegde confirmed that the company would continue to invest on network expansion and would focus on customer data experience. This expansion project would thereby see Airtel Lanka increasing its 3G presence to over 75 % of its networkacross the island which is amongst the highest 3G ratio available across the sub-continent. As part of this extensive expansion project, Airtel will continue to deploy robust and world class network infrastructure and equipment to strengthen its customers’ high speed data connectivity and mobile internet experience.

Continuing on the momentum of being the fastest expanding network in Sri Lanka, Bharti Airtel Lanka boasts of the fact that during the last two quarters of the 2014/15 financial year, the company has invested overSLR 1 billion on enhancing and upgrading the existing 3G footprint ensuring superior data experience to customers. The company further detailed that it would continue to invest on a regular basis and further strengthen its network connectivity with Internet having multiple interconnection points which willinvariably help customers have a superior 3G experience.

Commenting on this, Bharti Airtel Lanka’s Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director Jinesh Hegde stated that “Within a short period of market operation in Sri Lanka, we have been and still continue to be the fastest expanding network. This proves that our customers experience the best coverage which is in par with competitors located not only in Sri Lanka but within the subcontinent. Airtel has always changed the way the telecom business operates within the country and we will continue to ensure that our customers feel our presence within the telecom landscape in Sri Lanka”.

Hegde further stated that “It is now time for us to change the language of the telecom business – from being a basic mobile telecommunication organization to a specialized mobile internet organization. With this in mind, we will continuously invest heavily on our 3G network. Our new HSPA+ network infrastructure uses cutting edge technology and is designed to deliver a world class data experience for our customers in Sri Lanka. We are confident that this network expansion and upgrade will empower our customers living at any part of the island to experience high speed and seamless access to Internet services –allowing them to enjoy the best online experience across a host of activities including emailing, downloading, uploading, live streaming, social networking etc”.

Along with the commitment towards enhancing Airtel’s network presence across Sri Lanka and continuing to work towards new ways of delivering a seamless network experience to customers, Hegde further iterated that “According to a report from Cyber Media Research, smartphones shipments in Sri Lanka has increased by 100% to account for more than 20 % of total mobile phone sales. This proves that that the Sri Lankan customer is now ready for Internet options that suits his/her needs. In keeping to this new trend of digital empowerment, we will continue to explore new opportunities and connect with those who are yet to be connected – facilitating, enriching and uplifting their lives to get closer to what they love.  We have also started increasing the number of customer touch points across the island thus delivering on a promise hinged on reliability, affordability and accessibility”.

Bharti Airtel Lanka commenced commercial operations of services in Sri Lanka on January 12, 2009, and was the fastest operator to reach 1 million customers in Sri Lanka. With its network footprint panned out across the country and capturing strategic ranking positions in various areas in less than three years of operations, Airtel has emerged as Sri Lanka’s fastest expanding network. Registered under the Board of Investment in Sri Lanka, Airtel Lanka provides digital mobile services into Sri Lanka which includes voice, data and enterprise solutions.  The Company has received accreditations such as ISO 27001:2013 and ISO 22301:2012 for its continuous efforts towards information security and business continuity. Airtel Lanka is the youngest organization to be ranked among the Top 50 in LMD’s Most Respected Entities list in 2014. To know more please visit, www.airtel.lk