1. 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

2. Popular Broadband technologies in Sri Lanka
Wireless
DSL
Optical Fiber
Satellite

3. Current scenario Do we all have broadband access ?
90% covered on 2G
70% covered on 3G
SLT
Fixed Broadband
Mobitel
Broadband Coverage
Dialog
Broadband Coverage

4. Major investments in Mobile Broadband

5. Mobile Indicators

6. Current scenario Do we all have broadband access ?
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

7. Is broadband affordable to all Sri Lankans ?
Source : Measuring the Information Society Report 2014-ITU

8. 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
Mobile-broadband prices, prepaid handset-based 500 MB, 2013
3'170
Mobile-broadband prices, postpaid handset-based 500 MB, 2013
0.57
4.16
Source : Measuring the Information Society Report 2014-ITU

9. 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

10. Are we getting ADEQUATE quality
Currently used method by TRC

11. 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

12. 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

13. Key highlights of the Policy Brief
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.
Implementation of transmission infrastructure sharing mechanism and transmission medium sharing.
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.
The TRC should establish a standardized QoS (Quality of Service)measuring mechanism and make said details available to the general public.
Launch ICT training programmes and incubator programmes for those in rural areas
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.
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.

14. 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.

15. An effective ICT policy will address all parts of the eco system

16. Why Government should invest ?
Broadband enables job creation through three main channels
Direct jobs created to deploy the broadband infrastructure
indirect and induced jobs created from this activity
Additional jobs created as a result of broadband network externalities and spillovers (Katz 2009)

17. 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).

18. 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 )

19. THANK YOU
Any Questions?