HUTCH Continues Its Mission to Bridge Sri Lanka’s Digital Divide, Serving More Rural Communities

The story is about communities that have waited years for reliable connectivity. For students, it means they no longer have to travel far to do their research online. For farmers, it means getting market prices in time to sell their produce at a fair price. For parents who travel long distances to send money to their children studying in the city, and for small business owners who could not reach online markets before, it means a door has finally opened. 

HUTCH, in partnership with the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL), has deployed connectivity through newly commissioned sites, extending the reach of its Gamata Sanniwedanaya programme to unserved communities across rural Sri Lanka.

These new launches bring connectivity for the first time to Werellagama, Pelawa, Muruthalawa, Halloluwa and ten other new areas in the Kandy district. In Anuradhapura, the areas connected include Kumaraeliya, Jayagama, Pahalagama, Thalawa and two other new areas. In addition, fourteen more new areas across the districts of Badulla, Kalutara, Kegalle and Trincomalee have also been connected.

This phase of the HUTCH and TRCSL partnership has added nearly 300 square kilometres of new broadband coverage to Sri Lanka, reaching more than 10,000 people. Each new tower brings people one step closer to equal opportunity, no matter where they live. 

Mr. Saumitra Gupta, Chief Executive Officer, HUTCH Sri Lanka, said, "Building a tower in a remote area is never easy. The terrain, the logistics, access and power supply all bring their own challenges, but none of that changes our commitment. Bridging the digital divide is not something we do occasionally; it is an ongoing responsibility, and we have stepped up our investment to lead this effort."

HUTCH has stated that construction of further tower infrastructure has already commenced in more identified unserved communities across the districts, which will be coming on air during the remaining course of this year. HUTCH remains committed to expanding the Gamata Sanniwedanaya programme, working towards Universal Connectivity that will drive Sri Lanka’s ambition of a USD 15 billion digital economy by 2030.