HUTCH is expanding rural connectivity across Sri Lanka, bringing broadband access to communities that have long faced limited or unreliable digital connections. The latest expansion is helping students, farmers, families and small businesses access opportunities that increasingly depend on reliable internet services.
HUTCH strengthens rural connectivity, reaching more than 10,000 people through new broadband coverage.
In partnership with the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL), HUTCH has deployed new connectivity infrastructure through newly commissioned sites under its Gamata Sanniwedanaya programme. The latest phase targets previously unserved communities in several districts, extending digital access beyond the country’s main urban and commercial centres.
The new sites have connected communities in Kandy, Anuradhapura, Badulla, Kalutara, Kegalle and Trincomalee. In Kandy District, newly connected areas include Werellagama, Pelawa, Muruthalawa and Halloluwa, together with ten other locations. In Anuradhapura, connectivity has been extended to Kumaraeliya, Jayagama, Pahalagama and Thalawa, as well as two additional areas.
A further 14 new areas across Badulla, Kalutara, Kegalle and Trincomalee have also been brought into the network. Collectively, the latest deployments have added nearly 300 square kilometres of new broadband coverage and reached more than 10,000 people.
For residents in these communities, the impact of improved connectivity extends well beyond simply being able to access the internet. Students can conduct online research without travelling long distances to find a reliable connection, while farmers can obtain market information and prices more quickly when making decisions about selling their produce.
Families also benefit from easier communication and digital financial services, particularly when relatives live or study away from home. At the same time, small businesses in rural areas can gain access to online marketplaces and digital channels that were previously difficult to reach because of connectivity limitations.
The expansion therefore represents an important step in addressing Sri Lanka’s digital divide, particularly in areas where geographical conditions and infrastructure challenges have historically made network development more difficult. Reliable broadband can provide rural communities with greater access to education, commerce, communication and other digital services.
Saumitra Gupta, Chief Executive Officer of HUTCH Sri Lanka, said establishing telecommunications infrastructure in remote locations presents significant practical challenges, including difficult terrain, logistics, site access and power supply. Despite those challenges, he said the company remained committed to expanding connectivity and increasing its investment in the effort.
The latest expansion is part of HUTCH’s broader Gamata Sanniwedanaya programme, which is aimed at extending telecommunications services to communities that remain underserved. The company said construction of additional tower infrastructure has already begun in other identified unserved areas.
Those new sites are expected to come on air during the remainder of the year, further expanding the reach of the network. The continuing rollout indicates that rural connectivity remains a central part of HUTCH’s infrastructure strategy as demand for digital services grows across Sri Lanka.
The expansion also comes as Sri Lanka seeks to strengthen its digital economy and increase participation in technology-driven economic activity. Greater access to broadband infrastructure can help rural communities participate more fully in the digital economy by reducing geographical barriers to information, services and markets.
For businesses, better connectivity can support digital payments, online sales, customer communication and access to new markets. For individuals, it can improve access to online education, employment opportunities and essential digital services. These benefits make infrastructure investment an important component of broader efforts to achieve more inclusive economic development.
HUTCH said it remains committed to expanding the Gamata Sanniwedanaya programme as part of its contribution towards universal connectivity. The company has linked the continued rollout to Sri Lanka’s ambition of building a USD 15 billion digital economy by 2030.
With additional towers already under construction, the next phase of the programme is expected to bring connectivity to more rural communities. For people who have waited years for dependable access, each new site represents more than a telecommunications upgrade. It provides a practical connection to education, markets, financial services and wider economic opportunities.
The continuing expansion of HUTCH and TRCSL-supported infrastructure therefore highlights the role that telecommunications investment can play in narrowing Sri Lanka’s digital divide. As more underserved communities gain access, rural connectivity could become an increasingly important foundation for inclusive participation in the country’s digital economy.