Dialog Improves Connectivity to 1028 Villages & Deep Rural Communities via ‘Sew Desatama Dialog’ in 2021

Commissions 453 New 4G Towers, Totalling 4380 Sites in 2021

Continuing its commitment to empower and enrich Sri Lankan lives by expanding connectivity to every corner of the country, Dialog Axiata PLC, the widest network in Sri Lanka, announced the successful deployment of its ‘Sew Desatama Dialog’ initiative which improved connectivity to 1028 villages and deep rural communities in 2021.

Dialog recently commissioned the Yakupitiya Tower in the Kaluthara district as the latest step in this initiative. The ‘Sew Desatama Dialog’ initiative, will continue to enhance coverage across the country in the upcoming months. Furthermore, in its continued efforts to expand coverage and support customers during these unprecedented times, Dialog upgraded more than 3000 sites and added 453 new towers in 2021, reaching 4380 mobile 4G sites in its network, the highest ever tower count recorded in Sri Lanka. Dialog also made use of Green Field towers in rapidly expanding its coverage to reach deep rural communities and used the Lamp Pole solutions to cater to urgent capacity requirements in dense areas.

“By way of the ‘Sew Desatama Dialog’ initiative, we are hosting a national conversation that proactively addresses the need for connectivity in rural areas and the steps we need to take to move forward as one connected nation” stated Supun Weerasinghe, Group Chief Executive of Dialog Axiata PLC. He further added “The pandemic changed the way in which we view and approach digital equity and through this initiative I am pleased to say that we are making headway to the future by creating a sustainable and positive change for every child, individual, family, and community in Sri Lanka”

Commissioning of the Yakupitiya tower. Photographed left to right: Supun Weerasinghe, Group Chief Executive, Dialog Axiata PLC, Pradeep De Almeida, Group Chief Technology Officer, Dialog Axiata PLC, Dharshana Ranasinghe, Divisional Secretary, Palinda Nuwara, and Janak Fernando, Chief Executive Officer, Dialog Network Services

Dialog’s commitment towards enhancing its coverage footprint was further recognised by global leaders in network testing, including being conferred the ‘Best 4G coverage’ by Tutela. Dialog will continue to enhance coverage across Sri Lanka through another 200 towers in the next 6 months, targeting more than 95% population coverage by mid-2022.