HUTCH Sri Lanka and the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka have expanded the Gamata Sanniwedanaya rural connectivity programme, bringing mobile broadband to previously unserved communities and adding nearly 300 square kilometres of new coverage.
The latest phase has connected more than 10,000 people across multiple districts, including Kandy, Anuradhapura, Badulla, Kalutara, Kegalle and Trincomalee.
HUTCH said further tower construction is already underway in additional unserved areas, with more sites expected to become operational before the end of the year.
New sites connect previously unserved communities
In Kandy district, new connectivity has been introduced in Werellagama, Pelawa, Muruthalawa, Halloluwa and ten other areas.
In Anuradhapura, the rollout includes Kumaraeliya, Jayagama, Pahalagama, Thalawa and two additional areas.
A further 14 areas across Badulla, Kalutara, Kegalle and Trincomalee have also been connected as part of the latest phase.
The deployments are intended to reduce coverage gaps in communities where commercial network expansion has historically been more difficult because of geography, infrastructure constraints and lower population density.
Nearly 300 square kilometres of broadband coverage added
HUTCH said the new sites have added close to 300 square kilometres of broadband coverage and brought connectivity to more than 10,000 people.
That makes the latest deployment significant not just in terms of tower numbers, but in the amount of previously uncovered territory now gaining access to mobile broadband.
For rural communities, the additional coverage can support communication, digital services, education, commerce and access to online information.
More rural towers scheduled to go live this year
HUTCH said construction has already started on additional tower infrastructure in other identified unserved communities.
Those sites are expected to become operational during the remainder of the year, extending the Gamata Sanniwedanaya programme further across rural Sri Lanka.
The programme is being implemented in partnership with TRCSL as part of a broader effort to move the country toward universal connectivity.
Saumitra Gupta, chief executive officer of HUTCH Sri Lanka, said remote deployments involve challenges around terrain, logistics, site access and power supply, but that the operator has increased investment in rural network expansion.
Rural connectivity linked to Sri Lanka’s digital economy ambitions
HUTCH has positioned the programme as part of Sri Lanka’s wider goal of building a US$15 billion digital economy by 2030.
Improving rural broadband access is an important part of that objective because digital economic growth depends on connectivity extending beyond major urban areas.
Unserved communities risk being excluded from digital payments, online education, government services, e-commerce and other services if reliable broadband infrastructure is not available.
