Data Access has been granted an external gateway operator (EGO) license by Sri Lanka Telecommunication Regulatory Commission to provide ILD services to and from Sri Lanka. Data Access will be the first India-based telecom group to offer ILD services in Sri Lanka.

As part of its strategy to establish local partners in new telecom markets, Data Access India will steer its Sri Lanka operations in partnership with Golden Key Company, a group company of Ceylinco Consolidated, the leading business conglomerate in Sri Lanka.

With its unique hybrid network architecture of TDM and IP technology, and interconnection with more than 110 carriers globally, the telecom multinational expects to carry significant voice and data traffic and offer flexibility in terms of route management.

Says Gamini Gunawardana, executive director, Golden Key group: "We are delighted to partner with Data Access in this telecom venture. Data Access'' success in the recently deregulated Indian ILD market is quite impressive and their experience will be invaluable in scripting a success story in the deregulated Sri Lankan ILD market."

Adds Alak Saha, COO, Data Access India: "Sri Lanka is a strategic proposition for us and we are glad to be the first Indian telecom company to enter this market. Our global network architecture and interconnect agreements provide us the edge to leverage untapped potential in the Sri Lankan market. We expect to attain a 10-per cent share of the 500 million minutes a year ILD market in Sri Lanka. We are delighted to partner with the biggest business group in Sri Lanka who bring in the expertise to manage the local environment."