By now Sri Lanka faces the risk of losing the Google Loon Project, said Telecommunications & Digital Infrastructure Minister Harin Fernando at a media briefing today (16 February) to clarify certain current allegations over the ongoing Google Loon Project.

Minister Harin Fernando added, “The Google project arrived in Sri Lanka through Chamath Palihapitiya. Sri Lanka did not spend even a single cent on this project. Wi-fi for the whole of Sri Lanka was not expected to be provided through Google. This was only attempt to introduce something new from Google. Its pilot project was attempted in Sri Lanka. We merely intervened to become a stakeholder. We examined whether the 4G technology could be provided to the whole island through the Google balloon. We expected a quick victory. We only took a minor chance.”

“We requested approval only for a Google Balloon ‘Pilot Project’. This needs the approval of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC). My Ministry is a peculiar Ministry. Though I am the Minister for Telecommunications, the TRC does not come under my purview. Frequencies (Spectrum) do not concern me. That is why I say I am a name-sake Minister. Frequency usage does not concern me.

“Google had chosen an organization called Rama for its Sri Lankan activities. So far, the Sri Lankan government has not signed any commercial agreements with the institution called Rama. The government has not agreed to provide a frequency since this is a pilot project. We need to go for an agreement only if this is successful.

“The TRC is a member of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Since it is a member we have to abide by its terms and conditions. At this instance, a legal obstacle has emerged over providing a 700 mega hertz frequency.

“There are no underhand deals here. No funds from Sri Lanka have been spent on this project. We have never sold our frequencies to anyone. This has been reported to the Cabinet as well and approval obtained. However, there is a risk of Sri Lanka losing this project. It may go to some other country.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4MItZnuVJE