The Hon. Ajith P. Perera

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, given EDOTCO’s prior dominance, its ownership and control relationship with Dialog, and the current head responsible for the country’s digitalization having connections to Dialog’s parent and local entity, there is a grave, real risk. The power to build telecom towers is moving towards a private monopoly under one company. Therefore, tell us who are the second and third licensed companies.

¶ 02 Next, how are prices for services determined? What is the formula? You came to power promising to end corrupt and unsolicited practices. A licence is a business and generates revenue for its owners, shareholders and officers—if done lawfully. If an unsolicited advantage has been given, and if EDOTCO is owned by Dialog’s Malaysian parent while Dialog holds the largest market share locally, there is clearly a danger of creating a private-sector monopoly. Others will not be able to compete; Mobitel and Hutch will be squeezed out. We have no grievance with Dialog per se; if they bring technology, let it be within a competitive market. Telecom is our most successful privatization precisely due to competition. Now Dialog is gradually forming a private monopoly, and with towers too, a monopoly is in the making. Explain how prices will be reduced; what will be the impact on Mobitel and Hutch? Only through competition will consumers be treated fairly.