Vasana’s Views

Internet, before it becomes an illusion

Sanath Siriwardena writes in Daily News, March 11, 2009 as follows:

Sri Lanka needs a national policy for Internet

“…Broadband is so important and vital, and could play an effective role in the developing process.

This is the reason why most countries in the world have taken interest to develop standalone policy for broadband Internet. Therefore we should not mix up the broadband policy with the formal ICT policy because these two varies widely.

Sri Lanka needs a national policy for Internet. It is an exactly a policy for High Speed Broadband Internet (HSBB) that carries our country forward based on the platform of data networks…”

Operators’ ad hoc standardising adversely affects economy

“…It is as if the authorities have ignored the presence of broadband in the country. No standard was ever published and broadband operates are in an ad hoc basis.

Usually operator will decide and finalise the standards in broadband services. The impact this has caused on the economy is enormous. All three vital components in broadband; price, quality and coverage does not seems to be in favour of the public.

Latest technologies have deployed to provide Internet at faster speeds exceeding megabits. But achieving these advertised speeds to the Internet is a mirage. The word ‘high speed’ and the phrases like ‘very very fast’ were used frequently to describe nominal broadband Internet by taking the fullest advantage of an absence of an advertising watch-dog authority in the country.

Rural areas in the country are left behind by the authorities. Most tele-centers served in rural areas that provide Internet connectivity to villages, operate using low bandwidth services below 128kbps which is inadequate in all aspects. If one believes speeds as low as 128kbps could fulfill the requirements of IT in the country, it would be the biggest mistake we ever make…”

Read the full article here.