A Multi-stakeholder roadmap for 5G deployment in Sri Lanka : regulatory, operator, and enterprise user perspectives

Abstract

The fifth generation of mobile technology (5G) is widely recognized as a transformative platform for digital economies, offering ultra-low latency, high device density, and enhanced mobile broadband. While early adopters such as South Korea, China, and the United States have demonstrated significant socio-economic benefits, developing nations continue to face barriers related to spectrum scarcity, infrastructure costs, and regulatory uncertainty. Sri Lanka represents a case where national digital ambitions, outlined in strategies for 2030, are not yet matched by an operational roadmap for 5G deployment. This study examines Sri Lanka’s readiness to adopt 5G through a multi-stakeholder lens, focusing on regulators, operators, infrastructure providers, and industry users. Using a qualitative-dominant mixed-methods design, the research combines expert interviews with global benchmarks and secondary data. The analysis is organized around five key themes: spectrum allocation, NSA to SA migration strategies, infrastructure and power cost challenges, policy and regulatory incentives, and enterprise adoption models. Findings indicate that while operators are technically prepared to launch NSA 5G, progress is constrained by fragmented spectrum, limited fiber backhaul, high energy tariffs, and unclear regulatory processes. Industry adoption is further slowed by device affordability issues and weak enterprise demand. At the same time, lessons from regional peers highlight the importance of phased strategies, transparent spectrum frameworks, and coordinated infrastructure sharing. Drawing on these insights, the thesis proposes a four-phase roadmap of Enablement, Optimization, Innovation, and Reinvention, designed to align technical, regulatory, and market priorities. The roadmap emphasizes spectrum harmonization, infrastructure cost-sharing, regulatory reform, and targeted enterprise pilots as prerequisites for sustainable rollout. The study contributes by offering a context-specific model for 5G deployment in a developing economy, balancing international best practices with local constraints. Its outcomes are intended to guide policymakers, operators, and industry stakeholders in ensuring that 5G supports national goals of economic resilience, digital inclusion, and long-term competitiveness..