SLT completes country wide Broadband network

• SLT adds next generation architecture with IP based MPLS backbone.
• SLT completes country wide IP based MPLS backbone network to deliver IP based voice & data services
  

Sri Lanka Telecom, the nation’s only integrated communications service provider, proudly announce that it has enhanced its voice and data networks from traditional circuit switches towards next generation architecture by building a country wide state-of-the-art IP/MPLS (Internet Protocol/ Multi- Protocol Label Switching) based backbone in Sri Lanka. With the availability of advanced commutation options, SLT is concentrating to navigate its way through uncultivated territory in the Sri Lankan telecommunications sector. To date, SLT has been successful with the state-of-the art techno-ware for providing telecommunication facilities such as CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line), and National and International Fiber Optic infrastructure. Meanwhile, SLT is looking to launch NGN along with a number of creative and diversified services.

High Capacity Optical Fiber network
A future-proof high-speed island-wide optical fiber telecommunications infrastructure is another goal for SLT and its Central, Metro and Southern rings are already in service. SLT’s Optical Fiber Rings/Linear Networks have been designed to provide high transport capacity, which will have around 1500 km of Optical Fibers to interconnect all the provinces in Sri Lanka. The network, once established, will facilitate seamless connectivity islandwide.
Four Metro rings (STM–4), one Central ring (STM-16), part of the Southern ring (STM-4), part of the North – East Central Ring (STM-4) and part of the East - Uva Central Ring (STM-4) are already in service.

In support of the fiber backbone SLT introduced Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) network, which is the next generation packet-based IP transport technology. The MPLS backbone expansion will enable SLT to spread its converged broadband services such as NGN, All-IP CDMA, ADSL, Wi-Fi throughout the country. The MPLS based network is in operation since 2003, covering all Metro Rings, Kandy and Negombo in Central Ring and Galle and Matara in Southern Ring. A project is in progress to expand the MPLS network country wide covering cities like Kurunagala, Ratnapura, Upcountry, Anurathapura and even Jaffna during this year.

SLT Metro Ethernet
SLT already to rolled out its Metro Ethernet Services to support advanced data, voice, video and higher-speed Internet services. The SLT Metro Ethernet services are mainly for businesses & high end business customers.

SLT deployed Metro Ethernet to deliver end-to-end intelligent solutions to its Corporate and SMB customers based on state-of-the-art of MPLS technology. SLT Ethernet will provide integrated single port connectivity for the multiple services like; Voice, High speed data, High speed internet, video conferencing and Networking solutions.

The SLT Metro Ethernet has already completed 03 nos. of Access Rings in Colombo connecting 18 nos. of buildings. SLT already planed to connect about 100 nos. of buildings in Colombo by the end of this year. Each of these buildings are installed a MPLS capable Metro Ethernet Switch, which provides native Ethernet interface to the customer so that Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) can be directly connected in to the SLT Metro Ethernet. Project cost is Rs. 200 million to complete connectivity to 100 buildings.

Broadband demand
The main service on the SLT IP/MPLS backbone is providing IP-VPN to its corporate customers. SLT started remote VPN access using any access technology in 2005. This service will provide many advantages to the customers by giving Mobility, and Remote access. Customers can connect to the Corporate VPN using any access technology like, PSTN, ISDN, ADSL, internet and Wi-Fi. In the near future, remote VPN access will be available to any corporate VPN via GPRS and CDMA.

SLT ensures high security for the corporate VPNs providing customers, secure password using RSA security tokens. The demand and growth rate of IP-VPN ports has increased 100 percent in 2005 over 2004 (even present situation the growth rate is very much higher than this). SLT will also undertake the traffic engineering on MPLS VPN 24*7 Mission critical data security solutions for corporate customers.

SLT will deploy Metro Ethernet to deliver end-to-end intelligent solutions to its Corporate and SMB customers based on state-of-the-art MPLS technology. SLT will deliver new services such as VPLS (Virtual Private LAN services) and Corporate LAN Interconnections through Metro Ethernet Network. The Metro Ethernet Network will also be used as an access network for IP/VPN services and will be commissioned by April 2006.

The recent enhancements in ADSL based technology have begun to make its way into the ADSL deployments world wide, opening up possibilities for new service offerings. SLT is expected to give 100,000 ADSL Broadband connections this year. Last year saw a 100 percent growth in connections over the previous year. SLT is planning to introduce ADSL 2 and ADSL 2 Plus; enhanced xDSL versions such as VDSL 2 Plus with increased bandwidth capabilities enabling more advanced services over existing copper lines. Triple play services including IPTV and Video on demand is now tested on the network with high bandwidth last mile capability.