Airtel Sri Lanka, formerly known as Bharti Airtel Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, was the Sri Lankan subsidiary of the Indian multinational telecommunications company Bharti Airtel. The company was awarded a mobile phone operator license in 2006 and commenced commercial operations on January 12, 2009. Airtel Sri Lanka operated under the license granted in accordance with the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act No. 25 of 1991 and was registered under the Board of Investment Sri Lanka. The company provided digital mobile services, including voice telephony, voicemail, data services, and GSM-based services. As of June 2024, Airtel Sri Lanka had approximately 3 million subscribers. On June 27, 2024, Dialog Axiata acquired 100% of Airtel Lanka, marking the end of Airtel's independent operations in Sri Lanka (Wikipedia, 2024).
Country
Sri Lanka
Type
Mobile Network Operator

3G Network

Airtel Sri Lanka launched its 3G network shortly after commencing operations in 2009, providing island-wide coverage. The company invested $20 million in 2014 to enhance its 3G network infrastructure (Wikiwand, 2022). However, in response to evolving market demands and technological advancements, Airtel Sri Lanka received permission from the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) to shut down its 3G mobile network by June 24, 2022. This decision aimed to repurpose existing frequencies for 4G services, offering better speed and capacity. During the transition phase, Airtel was required to migrate at least 90% of its 3G subscriber base to its 4G network (Daily Mirror, 2022).
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4G Network

Airtel Lanka was awarded 4G spectrum in the 850 MHz band by the TRCSL, enabling the launch of high-speed mobile broadband services across Sri Lanka. The 850 MHz band, known for its efficient signal propagation, promised a superior 4G network experience with wider availability and better indoor coverage (Developing Telecoms, 2020). By 2021, Airtel had rolled out nearly 2,200 4G sites across the island, significantly increasing its network capacity. The company's 4G network was also designed to be 5G-ready, ensuring a seamless transition to next-generation networking once 5G services were enabled in Sri Lanka (Daily FT, 2021).
4G Frequency Bands
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5G Network

Airtel Sri Lanka commenced 5G trials in early 2022, using trial frequency allocations in the 3500 MHz band and employing 5G Non-Standalone (NSA) network technology. The trials demonstrated the 5G readiness of Airtel's network, achieving internet speeds of over 1.9 Gbps, the highest recorded in the country at the time (Developing Telecoms, 2022). Airtel's existing 4G infrastructure was prepared for a seamless transition to 5G, aligning with the company's vision to provide world-class network services to its customers. The 5G trials positioned Airtel among the leading innovators in mobile technology and network advancements (Colombo Gazette, 2022).
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