Sri Lanka - Internet Services, the Broadband Market and Forecasts

Synopsis

There were only six Internet Service Providers in Sri Lanka just over a decade ago. The number jumped quickly to over 20 and included a number of innovative operators. As this report indicates, internet and other forms of data services have been starting to take off in the country, but coverage and accessibility has been limited. Internet user penetration was estimated at around 10% by early 2011. The sophistication of the services available generally remained low. The early moves to offer broadband internet in the country met with limited success and it seemed that it would be some time before there is a substantial broadband market. There had been, however, some promising signs of growth in broadband services from 2007/08 onwards. Of particular interest was the upsurge in activity in the wireless broadband segment of the market, although this had not yet translated into significant subscriber numbers. Overall broadband penetration had reached just over 1% by early 2011. As well as providing an overview of Sri Lanka’s internet sector, this report takes a brief look at some of the service providers.

Key developments:

Sky Network, a subsidiary of SLT, launched its WiMAX service. The TRC began conducting tests on the broadband services offered by the various operators.

Companies covered in this report include:

SLT, SLTNet, SkyNet, Suntel, Lanka Bell, BellNet, Wishya Online (Pvt) Ltd, ITMIN Ltd, Eureka Online (Pvt) Ltd.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. Internet Market
  • 2.1 Overview
  • 2.2 Internet statistics
  • 2.3 Forecasts – Internet services – 2015; 2020
  • 2.4 Internet control and censorship
  • 2.5 Internet exchange
  • 2.6 Public internet access
  • 2.7 ISP market
    • 2.7.1 Lanka Internet Services
    • 2.7.2 SLTNet
    • 2.7.3 Suntel wOw
    • 2.7.4 BellNet
    • 2.7.5 Wishya Online (Pvt) Ltd
    • 2.7.6 ITMIN Ltd
    • 2.7.7 Eureka Online (Pvt) Ltd
  • 2.8 E-commerce
  • 2.9 E-government
• 3. Broadband Market
  • 3.1 Overview
    • 3.1.1 National Broadband Consultative Committee (NBCC)
    • 3.1.2 Broadband monitoring
    • 3.1.3 School Net project
  • 3.2 Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
  • 3.3 Wireless broadband/WiMAX
  • 3.4 Fibre to the Building (FttB)
• 4. Internet Protocol TV (IPTV)
• 5. Notes on forecasting
• 6. Related reports

• Table 1 – Internet users – 1996 - 2012
• Table 2 – Internet subscribers – 1994 - 2012
• Table 3 – International Internet bandwidth – 1998 - 2010
• Table 4 – Forecast internet subscribers and penetration rate – 2015; 2020
• Table 5 – SLT’s DSL broadband subscribers – 2005 - 2010
• Table 6 – Fixed broadband subscribers – 2002 - 2011
• Table 7 – Mobile broadband subscribers – 2010 - 2011
• Table 8 – Broadband subscribers and households – 2010
• Table 9 – DSL subscribers – 2003 - 2010

• Chart 1 - Internet users – 1996 – 2012
• Chart 2 - Internet subscribers – 1994 – 2012
• Chart 3 - International Internet bandwidth – 1998 – 2010
• Chart 4 - SLT’s DSL broadband subscribers – 2005 – 2010
• Chart 5 - Fixed broadband subscribers – 2002 – 2011
• Chart 6 – DSL subscribers – 2003-2010

• Exhibit 1 – Licensed Internet Service Providers (ISPs) – 2010
• Exhibit 2 – Licensed Data Communications Service Providers (Facility-based) – February 2011
• Exhibit 3 – Licensed Data Communications Service Providers (Non-Facility based) – February 2011