Telecom regulator to tighten competition rules, sets September deadline for mobile number portability

• Govt. to impose obligations on operators with significant market power to strengthen competition
  TRCSL revising broadband quality standards to independently monitor network performance and user experience
• Govt. to direct rollout of mobile number portability if operators fail to reach agreement by end-September
• Cost-based tariff models also expected this year to promote fairer pricing
• Ravi K. says Govt. should override wishes of single operator to ensure consumer rights

The Government will introduce new competition regulations for dominant telecommunications operators, tighten broadband service quality monitoring, and impose a September deadline for the rollout of mobile number portability (MNP), Digital Economy Deputy Minister Eng. Eranga Weeraratne told Parliament.

He said the Government was developing a long-term national telecommunications competition strategy that would identify operators with significant market power (SMP) and impose regulatory obligations to ensure fair competition. The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) is also introducing cost-based tariff models, with both measures expected to be completed this year.

On broadband services, Eng. Weeraratne said the TRCSL was revising quality of service (QoS) rules to strengthen oversight across different network technologies, including 5G and satellite services. The revised framework will also introduce monitoring of quality of experience (QoE) indicators such as latency.

He said the regulator currently relies on operator-submitted data to monitor service quality but is procuring an independent monitoring system through Asian Development Bank (ADB) funding to assess both QoS and QoE indicators.

Eng. Weeraratne, responding to questions raised by UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake, added that, with the licensing of new satellite service providers including Starlink, the Government would introduce a national strategy for universal broadband connectivity to complement existing fixed and mobile operator programs serving underserved and unserved areas.

On MNP, Eng. Weeraratne said discussions between the Digital Economy Ministry, TRCSL, and operators were continuing after one fixed-line operator sought to reconsider the original plan to introduce mobile and fixed number portability simultaneously, citing the cost and complexity of implementing fixed number portability.

He said that if the industry failed to reach agreement by the end of September, the TRCSL would issue directions under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act and operators’ licence conditions to proceed with MNP ahead of fixed number portability.

“The government accepts, without qualification, that the ability to change operators while retaining one’s number is an entitlement that consumers in the modern telecommunication market argue, and that its delivery is a matter of government policy commitment rather than operator discretion,” Weeraratne said.

He said mobile number portability would lower switching costs, improve competition and encourage operators to compete on service quality and innovation.

Responding to a supplementary question, Weeraratne said the Government considered a mobile-first approach more appropriate, noting that many emerging markets had introduced mobile number portability without implementing fixed number portability.

He said if operators failed to reach agreement by the end of September, the Government would intervene and direct the implementation of mobile number portability first, while considering fixed number portability later based on industry demand.

MP Karunanayake said the Government should not entertain any requests by the dominant fixed line operator but prioritise the rights of consumers.