Gauri Moragoda

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Gauri Moragoda Assistant Director /Legal
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USO Obligations in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is an Island situated in the Indian
Ocean.

• Population - approx 19 million
• Total Area - 65,610 sq km
• GDP per capita - US 839

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• Sri Lanka commenced Liberalization of the
  Telecommunication Market in 1991
• The Telecommunications Authority was established
  in 1991.
• The Authority was converted to a Commission
  (TRCSL) in 1997 by Sri Lanka Telecommunication
  (Amendment) Act, No. 27 of 1996.

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• PSTN Operators in Sri Lanka
• Three fixed access operators
• Four Cellular Mobile Operators

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(No Transcript)
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Telephone growth in fixed Mobile Telephones
from 1994-2002
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Section 4 (a) of the Sri Lanka Telecommunications
Act No. 25 of 1991 as amended by Act No. 27 of
1996.
(a) to ensure the provision of a reliable and
efficient national and international
telecommunication service in Sri Lanka (Save in
so far as the provision thereof is impracticable)
such as will satisfy all reasonable demands of
such service including emergency services, public
call box services, directory information services
maritime services and rural services as may be
considered essential for national well being.
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Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act No. 25 of 1991
as amended by Act No. 27 of 1996.
Sri Lanka Telecom Act nor the license condition
refers to a specific section imposing a mandatory
obligation on the operator to contribute for
universal service.
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Operator License

• The license include mandatory obligations on the
  operator on some aspects of Universal service
• Emergency Services
• Disadvantaged persons

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National Communications Policy

• The National Communications policy was adopted by
  the Government in year 2002.
• It recognizes the right of a citizen to have
  access to diverse and unrestricted sources of
  information and means of communication.

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National Communications Policy
The information infrastructure should be able to
provide reasonable and affordable access voice
and other services like internet, electronic mail
text message service etc.
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National Communications Policy
Recognizes the need to provide access to
different needs of the community such an gender,
age, ethnic and linguistic distinction and
handicaps.
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Communications Policy
The need to take affirmative action to assist and
provide affordable access to the low income users.
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Communication Policy

• Every Operator who is licensed under the Act will
  be obligated to contribute to national universal
  access objectives.
• These obligations will be based on the principal
  of non-discrimination.

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Communications Policy

• To establish a Telecommunications Development
  Fund (TDF)to help the rapid deployment of
  universal access in areas and populations that
  are inadequately served and perceived as
  uneconomic.
• The fund will be managed independently under the
  Ministry of Finance.

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• Steps taken towards universal access policy.
• Liberalization of international voice market to
  competitors in 2003.
• The External Gateway Operators are required to
  pay a network contribution fee to a fund called
  Vishwa Grama Fund (VGF).

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• Incoming Local Access Charge (iLAC) will be paid
  to the terminating operator on documentation
  detailing number of minutes it terminates.
• The balance of the Network contribution will be
  retained in the VGF and later paid to the
  terminating operator to expand its network in
  rural areas.

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Vishva Grama Fund
Network Contribution will be levied as
follows
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VGF

• The Government is currently drafting legislation
  to set up this fund.
• VGF Fund will be managed by a private bank.
• Indicators are being formulated to assist the
  fund managers to disburse the funds.

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Rural Sub-Post Office Project
TRCSL has under taken to provide telephone
facilities to 590 rural sub post offices in Sri
Lanka.
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Provision of Public Payphone service
As part of TRC commitment to provide universal
access. Any operator or a reseller who installs a
Public Payphone in rural areas can claim a
subsidy of SL Rs. 75,000 (Approx. US.750-) for
each Public Payphone installed.
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Thank You!