Dialog Axiata has successfully conducted Sri Lanka’s first Voice over New Radio (VoNR) trial on a live standalone 5G network, marking a significant milestone in the country’s 5G rollout. Using a Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra smartphone, the trial demonstrated the real-world feasibility of VoNR services, building on a previous lab-based proof of concept conducted in 2023.
VoNR, the 5G equivalent of VoLTE (Voice over LTE), enables voice calls over the 5G SA network, offering improved voice quality, faster call connections, and enhanced security compared to 2G, 3G, and VoLTE services. VoNR also improves network efficiency by better utilizing the 5G spectrum and supports future capabilities like ‘5G New Calling.’
Despite this advancement, 5G services in Sri Lanka are still in the trial stage. Dialog Axiata has been testing 5G since its first fixed-wireless pilot in 2018. The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) is working on allocating 5G spectrum, with the 3.5-GHz and 27-GHz bands under discussion for auction.
