SLT Mobitel, demonstrating its excellence as the best in class telecommunication service provider in the Asia Pacific Region, achieved yet another significant milestone by winning the Project Excellence Award 2020 by the Project Management Institute for its Stage VIII Project themed ‘Project Rural MPowerment’. Conceptualized to empower every Sri Lankan with digital inclusivity, the Project facilitated rural areas by providing 4G technology across the country. Having embarked on the project in 2018 with two leading strategic partners – Huawei and ZTE, the Mobitel team concluded the project five months ahead of its planned schedule. This multi-million-dollar endeavor involved establishing 5400+ base stations including over 3000 4G LTE nodes. As a result, people in and around the rural areas were provided with supreme connectivity and extended broadband coverage. In 2019, Mobitel made an investment of over USD 100 million in expanding its network and invest another USD 25 million in 2020 to provide superior connectivity as well as broadband experience to every Sri Lankan. Having completed before the COVID-19 outbreak, the project enabled school children to continue their education through e-Learning platforms and helped the corporate sector to adopt to the Work From Home concept with no interruptions. Further, the project not only enabled people in rural areas to connect with the world but also empowered the SME sector by facilitating them with broadband accessibility thus, increasing their contribution to the national economy. Commenting on the achievement, Lalith Seneviratne, Group CEO, Sri Lanka Telecom Group stated, “Being recognized internationally for a national level project by the Project Management Institute is a tremendous honor, and I would like to thank the Team Mobitel for their untiring commitment, dedication and loyalty to complete this project in record time. This high level of achievement has not only brought glory to Sri Lanka but has also shown that the skills and capabilities of local professionals to compete in the international market as well. I would like to thank our valued stakeholders, government officials and the PMI Sri Lanka Colombo Division, who went above and beyond duty extending their invaluable support in helping us to secure this coveted accolade”. Commenting further on this award, Nalin Perera, CEO of Mobitel said, “It is indeed an honor and privilege to receive this coveted award for the second time. At Mobitel, we are committed to leading Sri Lanka towards the next phase of digital revolution and such recognitions by international bodies further strengthens our purpose in bringing people close to what matters the most to them. I would also like to thank our stakeholders and government officials for their continuous commitment and support”. Through its global advocacy, collaboration, education and research, PMI has been delivering value for more than 2.9 million professionals globally to develop their career in project, program and portfolio management. The PMI Project Excellence Award is given annually to five winning projects, selected region wise, which best deliver the superior organizational results, performance in project management practices and positive impact to the society. Being awarded with such a global recognition has elevated the team to a new level of confidence and while further strengthening Mobitel’s position in local telecommunication market as well.
