SLA clearance required to use new cellular service in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 July 2007, 11:18 GMT]
Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA)-based digital cellular network, not deployed in Jaffna peninsula due to security reasons by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) administration, was made available from Monday to a limited number of subscribers who have obtained clearance from the SLA, according to Sri Lanka Tele Communication (SLTC) announcement in the media.

Maj. Gen. G. A. Chandrasiri officially inaugurated the service by calling Jaffna Government Agent from Palaali military base Monday at 11.30 a.m.

Around 1200 users of Motorola service in the undeveloped areas in the peninsula lost their connections with the collapse of the communication tower at Pa'n'nai in a cyclone.

These subscribers would be given first preference provided they have the SLA clearance, SLTC said.

Though there are nearly 40,000 cellular phones in use in Jaffna peninsula, the subscribers find them frequently disconnected by the SLA.

SLTC expects the newly introduced CDMA technology is likely to improve the situation, according to local media reports.

CDMA uses a spread-spectrum based transmission technology where many users share a wide-bandwidth efficiently.