Dialog Enterprise, the corporate ICT solutions arm of Dialog Axiata PLC, recently deployed a customized mission-critical push-to-talk (MCPTT) solution for Lanka Electricity Company (Private) Limited.

The rapid-response arm of the Ceylon Electricity Board, LECO was established in 1983 to provide electrical service to underserved areas. This MCPTT project, awarded to Dialog Enterprise after a competitive bidding process had the objective of providing a state-of-the-art radio telecommunications system based on mission-critical push-to-talk over 4G-LTE technology to cover the LECO service grids in Galle, Moratuwa, Kalutara, Negombo, Kelaniya, Kotte and Nugegoda. The solution had to be able to fulfill LECO’s current and future requirements, with radio telecommunications features and services in voice, data and video, and with future-ready devices that worked right out of the box.

The hardware package that Dialog Enterprise provided consisted of a central dispatch unit with voice and video dispatching, geolocation, and recording, plus 65 vehicle-mounted and 60 hand held devices with voice, video streaming and messaging capabilities. These rugged handheld devices come with 5-inch screens, front and back cameras, GPS positioning and supersensitive DMR antennas, and are so reliable that they are even used in tunneling and mining operations.

Mission-critical user communications have a higher priority than public user communications as per 3GPP telecommunication standards. Therefore, mission-critical users can communicate with each other and with the control center uninterruptedly even when network traffic is orders of magnitude greater than usual due to unforeseen circumstances--for instance, during a national emergency or natural disaster, when unprecedently high call volume can overwhelm even the highest-capacity network.

The MCPTT devices provided by Dialog Enterprise feature a device-to-device communication mode that functions in the absence of cellular network coverage. This failsafe feature enables LECO users to communicate with each other within a specified radius albeit if a disaster like a tsunami takes down the cellular tower infrastructure and renders the network completely unavailable.

“This MCPTT solution operates at a higher priority than Internet services, and also having a device-to-device communication mode are huge pluses for LECO,” said Athula P. De Silva - Chairman, LECO. “Because when connectivity is interrupted due to unforeseeable circumstances--like a sudden violent storm, for instance--we are the professionals whose job it is to bring the network back up. With this, our dispatchers and field engineers are in constant touch since we are in complete control of our own internal communication channel. And since this solution uses GPS technology, dispatchers know exactly where the repairpersons are at all times. So, in the event of an outage, power can be restored much faster. If we had chosen the generic mobile voice service or push to talk over cellular (POC) instead, our rapid response team's communications would have been vulnerable to the same disruptive factors and service interruptions as the general public--and that was totally unacceptable. We are the first line of defense against power outages. Dialog Enterprise’s MCPTT solution is a perfect fit for our requirements.”

“Apart from price and quality of service, one of the primary reasons why LECO chose Dialog Enterprise as their MCPTT solution provider is because this cutting-edge technology only works in 4G LTE and the best 4G coverage is with us,” said Navin Pieris, Group Chief Officer-Dialog Enterprise, Dialog Enterprise, Dialog Axiata PLC. "It is the fourth-generation wireless standard that offers increased network capacity and speed for cellphones and other cellular devices when compared to second-generation (2G) and third-generation (3G) technology." Dialog has by far the most wide-ranging 4G LTE coverage among Sri Lankan mobile operators, with network coverage encompassing 94% of the country's population and 78% of its geographical area—statistics confirmed by independent analytical reports such as Open signal. As a result, we've been approached by other service industry giants looking for solutions specifically designed for their specific requirements and we guarantee that this is the ideal solution for civil engineers, field technicians, and military service personnel."

Dialog Enterprise’s MCPTT solution is massively scalable, with on-demand expandability depending on customer needs. It is connected through a separate Enhanced Packet Core (EPC) network and is not connected to the internet. Therefore, the Dialog Enterprise solution provides tighter security against external cyber threats. Dialog’s network availability is quantifiably the best among Sri Lankan mobile operators. Dialog has an island-wide maintenance depot network that enables it to respond to network failures faster than any other service provider in the country. Additionally, it maintains a dedicated enterprise support team trained for rapid response to enterprise customer issues and requests.

Image Caption: Navin Pieris, Group Chief Officer - Dialog Enterprise, Dialog Axiata PLC with Athula P. De Silva - Chairman, LECO following the signing of the partnership agreement. Also in the picture (L-R) Ruwan Roshantha - Senior Sector Manager - Large Enterprise, Dialog Axiata PLC, Apsara Lahandasinghe - Associate Sector Manager - Large Enterprise, Dialog Axiata PLC, Roshan Silva - General Manager - Large Enterprise, Dialog Axiata PLC, Chamith Edirisinghe - Associate Enterprise Project Manager, Dialog Axiata PLC, Dr. Narendra De SILVA - General Manager, LECO, S. D. C. Gunawardana - Additional General Manager (Engineering), LECO, Chandima Premachadra - Additional General Manager (Human Resources & Administration), LECO, K. K. K. De SILVA - Additional General Manager (Finance) - Acting, LECO, G. A. J. Sanjeewa - Chief Engineer (Smart Grid Services), LECO.

Dialog Enterprise, the corporate ICT solutions arm of Dialog Axiata PLC, recently partnered ‘The Grand’ Ward Place, the ultra-luxurious residential project by Prime Group which was crowned as the Best Luxury Condominium in Sri Lanka by the Property Guru Asia Property Awards, and connected it to its ultra-fast broadband network and features premier Gigabit connectivity to provide a multisensory experience for all residents and visitors.

‘The Grand’ Ward Place is Prime Group’s flagship architectural marvel located in Colombo’s most sought-after address, The Ward Place. At a height of over 158m, it is the tallest and only high-rise in the area, a prominent highlight of The Grand is its 71-metre infinity pool situated at a height of over 130m on the 32nd floor and is the longest elevated infinity pool in Sri Lanka to date. The ultra-luxury property features three levels of curated indoor and outdoor amenities spread across 50,000 sq.ft. on the 05th, 32nd and 37th floors which serve as primary leisure and recreational areas.  The Grand, Ward Place is set to be completed by the end of this year.

“In today’s world, prestigious address is your wealth. Meticulously created interiors, unparalleled architecture, and the utmost levels of privacy and comfort make for a highly sought after, bespoke living experience. However, this must be supported by the latest in technology in order to truly create the ultimate standard in luxury living. Therefore, we are elated to partner with Dialog Enterprise who has always been at the forefront of technological revolution to offer our residents an enhanced connectivity experience,” said Premalal Brahmanage, Group Chairman, Prime Group.

“In addition to aesthetic appeal, any high-end residential location should also be powered by the latest in technology and other ancillary services in order to truly be the best in class. To that end, we'd like to thank Prime Group for the opportunity to bring the luxury of ultra-fast Dialog Fibre connectivity to ‘The Grand’ Ward Place. Residents at ‘The Grand’ can rest easy knowing that in terms of ICT, Dialog Fibre will continue to set the benchmark in offering clients the fastest and the best,” said Navin Pieris, Group Chief Officer – Dialog Enterprise, Dialog Axiata PLC.

Dialog Fibre offers dedicated bandwidth with the lowest latency, backed by a 24 × 7 Network/Service Operation Centre staffed by a team of skilled professionals. The Grand residents will also have access to several other services such as Broadband Internet, Wi-Fi, and IPTV to heighten the experience.

Image Caption: Navin Pieris, Group Chief Officer Dialog- Enterprise, Dialog Axiata PLC with Premalal Brahmanage - Group Chairman, Prime Group following the signing of the partnership agreement. Also in the picture (L-R) Pasindu Perera - MTU Solutions Specialist, Dialog Axiata PLC, Nilushi Fonseka - Partner Manager - Leisure & Multi-tenant Projects, Dialog Axiata PLC, Shanaka Wijesinghe - Senior Sector Manager - Leisure & Multi-tenant Business, Dialog Axiata PLC, Ramanan Devairakam - Senior General Manager - Large Enterprise Business Development, Dialog Axiata PLC, Sandamini Perera - Co – Chairperson, Prime Group, Manjula Weerakkody - Managing Director, Prime Lands Residencies PLC, Suranga Peiris - Head of Sales, The Grand, Krishantha Jayasekara - Manager MEP, The Grand.

Dialog Enterprise, the corporate ICT solutions arm of Dialog Axiata PLC, recently entered into a partnership agreement with SriLankan Airlines Cargo to provide cold room monitoring solutions (CRMS) in the cold storage facilities in airport premises at Katunayake and Mattala. Marked as one of the key projects trail blazed by Dialog Enterprise in the domain of Internet of Things technology in Sri Lanka, this installation will result in increased process efficiencies and significant cost savings over time.

A state-of-the-art IoT solution, this automated temperature-monitoring system is a vast improvement on the manually-operated approach it replaces, and it significantly reduces the spoilage and damage incurred with legacy cold chain supply operations. The technology continuously tracks and records temperatures 24/7, and sends alerts on temperature fluctuations via multiple channels, including SMS, email and web.

“The airline industry is fiercely competitive, and carriers operate on razor-thin margins, therefore when it comes to cold storage, the difference of one degree can mean the difference between obtaining a profit or loss,” said Chaminda Perera, General Manager Cargo for SriLankan Airlines Limited.

“This is especially true for perishables such as food, fresh produce and medicines. As the sole ground handler for all operating airlines into Sri Lanka that carry significant amounts of perishable cargo including medicine and organic produce, there is a substantial risk of spoilage occurring if the temperature of the storage unit fluctuates for even a few degrees. With rising costs of energy, keeping the temperature at an optimum level will have a favorable impact towards the bottom line of not only the airline operations but also the other key stakeholders in the entire supply chain process for perishable items. This system will ensure that the right temperature is consistently maintained over time,” Udeni Perera,  Senior Manager Worldwide Cargo Operations for SriLankan Airlines Limited further added.

Navin Pieris, Group Chief Officer - Dialog Enterprise, Dialog Axiata PLC was upbeat: “The ideal temperature for preserving fresh vegetables is not the same as the one for refrigerating milk. There are cost savings to be gained in those different degrees of coldness, and with IoT technology you benefit from that. And that's just one example of the way the Internet of Things will streamline the future operations of SriLankan Airlines. We are proud to assist our national carrier as it embarks on the path of cutting-edge innovation. Meanwhile, we have a number of other IoT solutions that offer cost-saving opportunities for major players in any industry to become more efficient and more profitable. Dialog Enterprise has IoT Solutions to match the needs of all Sri Lankan businesses, thanks to our customisable, cloud-hosted IoT platform.”

SriLankan Airlines engineering staff can fine-tune the CRMS as desired, setting up the ideal storage conditions based on the storage items. Additionally, the system stores and provides access to historical data to aid airline management in further analysis, planning and decision-making. Sri Lankan airlines, in collaboration with Dialog Enterprise CTMS has taken a step towards upholding quality and industry standards when it comes to serving passengers all over the world.

To find out more or to sign up for this solution, contact a Dialog Tech Expert on 077 333 0788

Dialog Enterprise, the corporate ICT solutions arm of Dialog Axiata PLC, recently announced that it has established a collaboration with Asia Pacific Institute of Digital Marketing (APIDM) to offer Data Science-related training programs are currently conducted by its own Dialog Data Science Academy

Offering a collaborative 7-week Data Science Foundation Program which is conducted during weekends, the course of study aims to give non-technical managers or business managers a fundamental understanding of analytics. This positions the program as an ideal learning experience for those who are working in data science or analytics related projects but lacks the fundamentals necessary for successful execution. It will also be greatly useful for those who use analytics in their daily operations.

With the Data Science Foundation Program being the first program offered under this partnership, it is expected that the course option pool will be expanded to cover more programs in the coming months.

“In today’s context, pursuing an education in Data Science has proven to be a fruitful move as the job market for such professionals shows immense potential. After successfully conducting several training programs for C level corporate managers, Dialog Enterprise’s Data Science Academy is hopeful that the collaboration with APIDM will result in more visibility for the program outside of Sri Lanka,” said Navin Pieris - Group Chief Officer, Dialog Enterprise, Dialog Axiata PLC.

“Data science is rated as one of the most demanded skills for the next ten years. As the competency builder for the digital economy in the region, APIDM recognized a skills gap for data science in the market and found Dialog Enterprise as the perfect partner to collaborate in developing an upskilling program,” said Amitha Amarasinghe, Co-founder / Chief Executive Officer - APIDM.

Established with the primary objective of assisting in building data science and analytical skills of organizations with in-depth and interactive training programs, Dialog Enterprise’s Data Science Academy helps organizations benefit by establishing data-driven decision making, business planning and operational management

Some of the other programs offered by the Academy includes management awareness programs on data science and the applications of data science, advanced technical training for data science professionals, basic training and certification related to data engineering, data visualization, data modelling. for students / individuals interested in data science.

Asia Pacific Institute of Digital Marketing is a training and skills development institute in the fields of Digital Marketing, eCommerce, Social Media Marketing and Business Analytics. As a result of this collaboration, both parties are hopeful that the gap between business know-how and technical know-how will be bridged, not only in Sri Lanka but across the world as well.

Individuals who are interested in enrolling for the Dialog Enterprise Data Science Foundation Program are encouraged to visit https://apidm.lk/data-science-foundation-program/ and https://business.dialog.lk/products-services/data-insights/data-science-academy/ for more information.

Image Caption : Navin Pieris - Group Chief Officer - Dialog Enterprise, Dialog Axiata PLC with Amitha Amarasinghe - Co-Founder/Chief Executive Officer, Asia Pacific Institute of Digital Marketing, following the signing of the partnership agreement. Also in the picture (L-R) Abiylackshmana Prabakaran - Manager - Programme Management, Asia Pacific Institute of Digital Marketing, Venura Mendis - Head of ICT BU - Dialog Enterprise, Dialog Axiata PLC, Eranda Adikari - Product Head-Data Insight, Dialog Axiata PLC.

Dialog Enterprise continues to support  community service projects by Rotary Club of Colombo Metropolitan for a further three years. 

The Rotary Club of Colombo Metropolitan in partnership with the Royal Colombo Golf Club (RCGC) and Dialog Enterprise, the corporate solutions arm of Dialog Axiata PLC Sri Lanka’s premier connectivity provider, presents the Par 3 Golf Classic for the sixth consecutive year on October 29th, 2022. This year’s Par 3 classic is assured to be a day of competitive golf for the members of the RCGC with the golfers set to tee-off at 7.00AM and 12 noon in two separate groups, adhering to current health regulations. This partnership reiterates Dialog’s commitment to society as well as to sports in general.

The Dialog Enterprise – Rotary Metro Par 3 Golf Tournament is a unique event, where the entire course is converted to a par 54 course, the only one of its kind in Sri Lanka. With the holes being of various lengths but all playing to a Par 3 each, this tournament presents a challenging yet fun outing for the players. This annual golfing event is held with the objective of collecting funds to aid multiple community development projects initiated, monitored and managed by the Rotary Club of Colombo Metropolitan.

Dilini Hennayake, President of The Rotary Club of Colombo Metropolitan (RCCM) speaking on the partnership said, “We are once again happy to welcome Dialog Enterprise as our title sponsor for our annual Par 3 golf classic. Our aim in organising this annual event is to help build and empower our underprivileged communities. Two Hearts has aided in significantly reducing the waiting list at Lady Ridgeway Hospital in Colombo to help save the lives of children born with congenital heart disease. We fund these critical surgeries at private hospitals and in doing so reduces the number of children dying. In the past two years, our club has been working with multiple government hospitals to help procure essential medication to ensure that the hospitals are able to ease the burdens of the less fortunate.

She further added, “We have taken our Little Minds Strong Values programme national by partnering with the Ministry of Education to use a library of videos using songs, short stories and idioms targeted at preschool children highlighting strong positive values. RCCM has continued our support to Meth Sewa and Sith Sevana, two homes located in the Wellawaya District that houses over 300 mentally and physically challenged children and adults. This year we are partnering with Vision Fund Lanka, in Trincomalee to form client groups and provide micro loans up to Rs 50,000. These individual loans are provided based on a cross guarantee among the group members in the community and thus supports and empowers women without any collateral to access funds for their business purposes. The beneficiaries are also provided with financial literacy on careful borrowing and savings at the commencement of our relationship. We are working with AppeLanka and providing drinking water and enabling home gardens.” 

Other projects we are managing and supporting include the Sunshine Games, a sports meet and carnival for over 800 differently abled children and an after school English and IT education programme for the children of Gamini Vidyalaya and its vicinity. I would like to thank all our other sponsors including South Beach Weligama, Asia Securities and Akbars for coming  on board to help our club help the community at large. ”

Navin Peiris, Group Chief Officer of Dialog Enterprise at Dialog Axiata PLC said, “We are pleased to extend our partnership with the Rotary Club of Colombo Metropolitan for the fifth consecutive edition of the par 3 golf classic. We are happy to have sponsored multiple congenital heart surgeries through RCCM in the past years and have pledged support to strengthen Rotary’s social and charity projects for the next three years. This partnership complements Dialog Enterprise’s visionary sponsorship of promoting golf as a responsible corporate, caring for the nation as we believe in uplifting communities and the less privileged involved with the sport at all times; essentially in difficult periods such as today. Dialog Enterprise has been the leading sponsor of the sport for nearly a decade through the development of golf, sponsoring golf clubs, tournaments, promoting golf for school children and sponsoring leading golfers from Sri Lanka. We are glad to have stepped in to sponsor this prestigious tournament which is played in the best spirit of the game.”

The platinum sponsor for the event is South Beach Weligama - now, you can own an Indian Ocean beachfront address with nothing between your balcony and Antarctica. The gold sponsor for the event is Asia Securities, a leading investment firm in Sri Lanka providing investment banking, research, equities, and wealth management services to corporate, institutional, and individual clients. The silver sponsor is Akbar Brothers. Other partners for the event include Ceylon Biscuits Limited, M Power Capital, Wurth and Chatham Luxury watches. The Dialog Enterprise Rotary Metro Par 3 Golf Classic 2022, will be held on October 29th 2022, and is set to be a memorable day of top quality golf, while raising funds for charity.

Dialog Enterprise, the corporate ICT solutions arm of Dialog Axiata PLC, recently unveiled a timely technological solution for monitoring and measuring fuel and energy consumption with precision. Developed in partnership with the University of Moratuwa Research Laboratory and rigorously tested and used on Dialog’s own base stations, the solution was released ahead of schedule to help organisations efficiently manage their fuel usage and consumption.

Based on the Internet of Things (IoT) technology, this solution uses multiple sensor types to record and showcase information in systems in real time, 24/7 and alerts the users via SMS, email, or the web when critical thresholds are reached. The solution also offers users a wide range of options to trigger alerts based on their security clearance and allows them to view the status of all their currently operational vehicles on one dashboard.

Dialog has successfully used this IoT solution at locations where its towers are placed which brought about several benefits including reductions in maintenance and manpower cost, the elimination of fuel fraud, better visibility of energy consumed, improved overall efficiency and reductions in waste. The data gathered from this solution also proved to be beneficial in future planning.

This futuristic fuel and energy consumption monitoring solution has been developed in line with Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) compliance and has greatly helped Dialog engineers to overcome their day-to-day struggles in maintaining uninterrupted power and connectivity during times of fuel shortage. The proven results of this solution and its relevance to a large cross section of the economy means that it can be quickly and easily adapted to meet the specific needs of other industries, especially in terms of monitoring and managing large-capacity generators and fuel depots. Its immediate deployment at fuel stations, factories, hotels and other relevant industries around the country is expected to contribute for a substantial savings while acting as an anti-pilfering tool.

“In today’s context, energy conservation has become a large contributor to a healthy bottom-line growth. Therefore, the ability to measure and monitor energy and fuel consumption, especially in the current situation where these resources are not always readily available, is vital. We are confident that using an infinitely scalable solution such as this will bring about greater cost savings and reduce unnecessary wastage while showcasing trends and providing valuable data to help make informed decisions in future business planning,” said Pradeep De Almeida, Group Chief Technology Officer, Dialog Axiata PLC.

“Judging by our own experience, using a fully automated solution such as this will lead to fewer breakdowns, significantly reduced staff and manpower costs and less downtime, all of which will contribute positively to profit margins. At Dialog Enterprise we are committed to introducing the latest in technological advancements, customized for our local market, that is geared to solve pressing business concerns and this solution is just one of several in the development pipeline that corporates can expect soon,” said Navin Pieris, Group Chief Officer, Dialog Enterprise, Dialog Axiata PLC.

 “With many years of experience in remote monitoring systems development at the Dialog-University of Moratuwa Mobile Communications Research Laboratory, I am happy that our technology has proved useful during a critical time in our country. We are committed to developing new products and services with Dialog Enterprise that will take Sri Lankan enterprises to the forefront, thereby ensuring Sri Lanka’s place a significant one in the challenging and evolving world of mobile technology,” said Prof. Dileeka Dias, Director, Dialog - University of Moratuwa Mobile Communications Research Laboratory.

This solution can be obtained from a starting price of Rs. 75,000. To find out more or to sign up for this solution, contact a Dialog Tech Expert on 0777 33 88 78.

IoT solutions have proven advantageous for almost every industry, facilitating the creation of new business opportunities, and boosting efficiency by connecting devices, managing tasks, analyzing opportunities, and transferring information in a secure manner. Along with other cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, IoT creates a smart inter-connected environment where machines and equipment make decisions themselves. IoT is a game-changer for industries looking to explore automation as a tool for remote equipment control.