Bharti Airtel Lanka Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Bharti Airtel, on Wednesday said that it will launch 2G and 3G services in Sri Lanka by the end of the current financial year. The company also announced its plans to invest approximately $200 million in the next five years in the Sri Lankan market. Since the company is currently setting up its operations, a major portion of the committed investment will be made during the next 12 to 18 months. The mobile services will be launched under the Airtel brand.
?We are committed to offering world-class and affordable 2G and 3G services to customers in Sri Lanka. With mobile penetration of around 30% and growing at a rate of approximately 2 million mobile users per annum, we are excited about our entry into this market,? said Sanjay Kapoor, president, mobile services, Bharti Airtel. ?Our plans for Sri Lanka clearly demonstrate our commitment to the market and also our confidence in the potential that this market holds in Airtel’s overseas expansion journey,? he added.
Bharti Airtel was awarded the licence to provide 2G and 3G mobile services in Sri Lanka earlier this year. The foray into the Sri Lankan market is expected to provide the company a strong foothold in the South Asian region.
In June this year, Bharti launched its mobile services in Jersey. The company said it would offer market-leading products and services under the Airtel-Vodafone brand to customers on the Island over its full 2G, 3G and HSDPA enhanced network.
In September last year, it was awarded licences to operate 3G as well as 2G mobile services in Guernsey. In December, Bharti became the first Indian telecom service provider to launch 3G operations in Seychelles.