SLT group charts aggressive global expansion with Singapore hub and new submarine cables

Chairman Dr. Mothilal de Silva

CEO Riyaaz Rasheed

By Nishel Fernando 

The Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) group is embarking on an aggressive overseas expansion strategy to capture a larger share of the global digital economy, anchoring its international operations in Singapore.

The national telecommunications provider has established a fully-owned subsidiary, Xyntac Singapore Pte Ltd, dedicated to handling its global wired telecommunication network operations. As part of this strategic pivot, the company is rapidly acquiring the necessary regulatory licences to compete directly alongside the global tech operators.

“We have a very aggressive plan to increase our global presence,” the SLT officials confirmed at a recent press briefing. 

“We have already incorporated an entity in Singapore and obtained an SBO (Service-Based Operator) licence. We are currently in the process of obtaining an FBO (Facilities-Based Operator) licence for our Singapore operations.”

Once this final regulatory hurdle is cleared, the group plans to run its global business seamlessly from the city-state. 

“The main reason for this is that most global operators reside in Singapore, making it much easier for us to expand our presence by sitting there alongside them,” the officials explained.

This outward-looking expansion is heavily underpinned by continuous capital investments in global connectivity infrastructure, particularly an extensive submarine cable network. SLT currently plays a critical role in connecting the island to the global digital economy through the operation of four international submarine cable systems. This network spans across continents to provide highly scalable carrier-grade connectivity, effectively positioning the island as a crucial digital transit node in the Indian Ocean. To further elevate this capacity, SLT is a key consortium partner in the upcoming SEA-ME-WE 6 submarine cable system. The massive new cable will land at SLT’s Matara Cable Landing Station and the company has already secured 6 Tbps of the system’s design capacity to ensure high-speed data transmission for the broader economy. While the company’s latest annual report outlines that the system is scheduled to commence commercial operations by end-2026, the officials noted the full completion timeline during the recent briefing.

“We have already invested heavily in undersea cable systems,” an official stated. 

“We currently have four systems and the fifth one, SEA-ME-WE 6, is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2027.”

By leveraging its enhanced undersea bandwidth and its new Singaporean operational base, SLT aims to transition from a domestic telecommunications provider into a formidable international digital ecosystem player. 

“This infrastructure gives us the global connectivity needed to increase our international revenue and bring foreign exchange into the country,” the official added, highlighting the strategic shift as a robust buffer to diversify income streams and scale operations beyond local borders.

PIX BY KITHSIRI DE MEL