GSM Asia Pacific

Director General of the Telecom Regulatory Commission, Sri Lanka

The theme of this conference is Beyond 21. This has a meaning, because beyond 21 means it is beyond maturity age. Today is also world literacy day. As you know GSM was introduced by Dialog Telekom in 1995. As of today, we have reached 43% of our population with mobile telephony, and I’m sure that will soon be 50%. Today, everybody irrespective of social status, is carrying a cellular phone. As you know we are a country which has been battered by terrorism so we have taken steps to make the mobile more personal and registered in their own name.

GSM is pursuing mobile communication as the most effective means for pursuing the digital divide gap. You can imagine the speed, speed of light. When I met the China Mobile subscribers, he said we are adding 7 million subscribers a month. It is not only the companies, the people come after technology. A recent ITU report states that Asia Pacific is driving broadband growth though there is still a gap between rich and poor economies. Let’s start with a motto saying ‘Broadband For All’. Cybersecurity is also a crucial issue. When your children are exposed to the cyberspace, predators are online. Very recently the President told the TRC to place filters on the Internet. If an adult wants they can have access for a few. We are starting a School Net program and it is important that they have access to a safe Internet.

At a recent panel my theme was security, who protects who from what. We discussed lots of details and it was a very good panel. Those ideas may bring results very soon.

Before I conclude, let me thank GSMA Asia Pacific for choosing this venue and appointing a Sri Lankan lady as chair. Thank you very much.