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Nurturing People
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Introduction
BEYOND SHORT-
TERM PROFITS
BEYOND SHORT-TERM PROFITS 27
Axiata Group Berhad | Sustainability & National Contribution Report 2016
National
Contribution Report
BEYOND
SHORT-TERM PROFITS
Investing in Coverage
Our investment in infrastructure is not based
only on commercial considerations, but also on
the non-financial values that we create for our
stakeholders. Our OpCos strive to expand their
network coverage in the country to connect the
previously unconnected and to enrich lives by
facilitating access to digital connectivity. While
our network expansion plan extends coverage
to areas that are less commercially viable than
others, for example to rural regions rather
than key population centres, we believe these
initiatives will result in greater social uplift and
will make a greater impact on the market as a
whole over the long term.
As at the end of 2016, more than 30,000 of our
base transceiver stations (BTS), or approximately
44% of our total number of BTS, were located in
rural areas.
Investing in Technology
Our investment in technology has made us the
widest 4G LTE service provider in many of our
markets. We strive to expand 4G LTE services
in these areas as the service is essential in
supporting new beneficial innovations such as
e-banking, e-commerce and online education.
Our OpCos continually explore ways in which to
improve the quality and service of their offerings.
One example is Dialog’s USD34.5 million effort
to connect Sri Lanka to the Ultra High Capacity
100G-PLUS Bay of Bengal Gateway (BBG)
Submarine Fibre Optic Cable via its state-of-
the-art Cable Landing Station (CLS) at Mount
Lavinia (South Colombo). With this connection,
Sri Lanka is linked to one of the world’s most
technologically advanced cable systems and this
represents the single largest global bandwidth
infusion into the country.
The new cable system delivers over 6.4 terrabits
per second (Tbps) of international bandwidth to
Sri Lanka thereby representing a significant step-
up with respect to connectivity. The BBG cable
means greater speed and capacity for Dialog’s
3G HSPA+, 4G and Fibre Optic networks, which
in turn means better connectivity and service for
its customers.
Dialog was also a part of South Asia’s first 4.5G
demonstration featuring download speeds
in excess of 1Gbps. A demonstration of 4.5G
capabilities was held at Dialog’s Iconic Centre,
which also included explanation as to how 4.5G
will affect customer experience. Some of the
key benefits of the higher bandwidth include the
ability to stream ultra-high definition video and
data transfer capabilities.
The BBG investment and 4.5G demonstration
exemplify Dialog’s commitment to provide the
best in connectivity and enterprise solutions to
Sri Lankan businesses and internet users.
Inclusivity in Products and Services
To complement connectivity, we develop
inclusive products and services that fit the unique
context of our customers. While these products
may not be as commercially viable as products
with mass appeal, they have been designed for
a specific context and can significantly create
greater social value than a generic product.
These products are typically aimed at a specific
segment to help improve their livelihoods and
empower them. As a matter of practice, all
Axiata products are designed in accordance
with our 4A Model: Affordability, Availability,
Applicability and Accessibility.
Digital Inclusion and Digitised Ecosystems
Axiata innovates on its digital offerings to meet
the needs of all our communities including those
located in rural regions. We focus on developing
digital ecosystems that provide basic services
such as access to capital (m-money) and trade
transactions (m-commerce). We also focus
on the specific contextual needs of specific
segments of the community, such as the ‘Govi
Mithuru’ service that was launched for Sri Lankan
farmers by Dialog.
‘Govi
Mithuru’
service was launched for
Sri Lankan farmers by
Dialog
Developing digital
ecosystems to provide
basic services such as
m-money
and
m-commerce
services