SLT launches 100G ultra speed national backbone network

Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), the national ICT solutions provider yesterday announced that it has launched the country’s first ultra-speed national wide DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing) fiber optic backbone transmission Network (NBN) in Sri Lanka.Huawei, the strategic partner of SLT worked together with SLT to implement the NBN with new generation OTN-based 100G DWDM solution. The solution supports 8 Terabits (1 Terabits = 1000 Gigabits) per seconds transmission capability through fiber optic cater to future explosive growth of Sri Lanka ICT.

A versatile ICT platform is a critical tool towards achieving the GoSL’s goal of a US$ 100 billion GDP economy and US$ 4,000 per capita income by 2016. The first step in creating a resourceful ICT platform is strengthening the National Backbone Network (NBN), with an aim to cater to future needs of all ICT operators of the country. With a significantly enhanced bandwidth, the NBN’s fibre-optic architecture would undoubtedly enhance connectivity and speed, while bridging the digital divide in the country.Reengineering the national ICT infrastructure is indeed a colossal undertaking, and the Government of Sri Lanka awarded the massive task of building the National Backbone Network (NBN) to SLT in 2013. Covering all 329 divisional secretariats in Sri Lanka within a 5 year time window, the NBN aspires to deliver high speed uninterrupted access at all times, to every business and household in the country.

Commenting on the launch of 100G Ultra Speed NBN, Lalith De Silva, Group CEO of Sri Lanka Telecom said, “As the NBN service provider, SLT has established a fiber optic network that spans over 20,000km within the country. SLT is the only ICT solutions provider with multiple global connectivity options.Through the company’s domestic and global connectivity options, SLT provides the backbone for other operators to enhance their services to their customers.”

Adding further De Silva, said “With the NBN rollout, the industry will certainly be empowered to provide high speed broadband access at affordable and competitive prices. The country’s NBN provider today, is continuing to strengthen its 150 years of strong history in 100G technology. We are proud of the fact that the company has completed yet another industry first, technology milestone by proving that 100G traffic can be successfully carried over SLT’s National Ethernet network between two 100G network interface devices while maintaining carrier-grade performance. Having 100G network access will be important for developing Sri Lanka’s businesses that operate data centers and for mobile backhaul and other service applications empowering the growth of the national economy, in support of the Government’s strategic objectives and drive our nation towards a SMART Sri Lanka.”

Fiber optic transmission infrastructure is fundamental to telecommunications. Within less than half a century, the optical transport industry has migrated from PDH, through SDH, WDM, to OTN-based 100G DWDM, boosting network speeds from megabit-level to terabit-level performance and progressing from pure manual network configuration and management to modest levels of automation.

Huawei’s Chief Executive Officer, Daniel Sun said “NBN is a timely requirement for SLT which you have chosen Huawei to supply and implement this project. Such forward looking initiative in the event of initiative magnifies the uniqueness of the SLT. Every day we have more and more people connected through the internet. It makes our corporation with telco operators much more significant and prominent. We all need to taking care of responsibility to continue our best efforts in bridging the digitally divided communities and promoting all with the equal opportunities brought about by the internet”