### 📈 Sri Lanka’s 5G & FWA: Bridging the Digital Divide

A new report highlights the critical role of 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) in connecting rural Sri Lanka, where 80% of the 23 million population resides. Despite a 59.7% internet penetration rate, nearly 9 million citizens remain offline as of early 2026. • Current Landscape: Internet Users: 13.9 million (59.7% penetration). Rural Connectivity: Fixed broadband remains largely confined to Colombo and major urban hubs. 5G Launch: Commercial 5G services commenced in December 2025 following the TRCSL spectrum auction. • The FWA Advantage: Telecom Infrastructure: FWA delivers fiber-like speeds wirelessly, bypassing the high costs and delays of laying physical cables in rural areas. Historical Success: A previous 4G FWA rollout (2013–2018) tripled home broadband penetration from 9% to 26%, adding 800,000 households. • Economic Impact: Regional Growth: Mobile technologies contributed US$ 950 Bn (5.6% of GDP) to the Asia-Pacific economy in 2024; projected to reach US$ 1.4 Tn by 2030. Local Necessity: Reliable home internet is now vital for remote work and digital education amid ongoing economic and fuel-related disruptions. • Challenges to Adoption: High cost of 5G-enabled consumer devices. Rural electricity reliability and digital literacy gaps. Mobile coverage already exceeds 90%, providing a strong foundation for rapid FWA expansion.