Sri Lanka Halts Issuance of New Analogue TV Licenses Ahead of Digital Shift

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Sri Lanka has moved to halt the issuance of all new terrestrial analogue television licenses, signaling the start of a long-planned transition toward a fully digital broadcasting landscape. Authorities say the analogue system, which currently supports 24 channels operated by 16 organizations, including five state broadcasters, has already reached the limits of its available frequency spectrum.

Rather than expanding an outdated system, the government this year launched the Digital Non-Territorial Television Broadcasting Project, an initiative intended to consolidate the nation’s TV broadcasting under a single digital platform. The shift will introduce modern, higher-quality transmission capabilities and streamline how channels operate.

A partnership with the government of Japan will support the rollout of this digital network, which is expected to be completed in 2029. Once the new system is in place, Sri Lanka plans to maintain a two-year transition window before phasing out analogue broadcasting completely.

With the analogue shutdown already scheduled, officials argue that granting additional analogue licences would serve no long-term purpose and could even complicate the national transition. The focus, they say, must now be on preparing broadcasters and infrastructure for the upcoming digital ecosystem.

The Cabinet has therefore approved a proposal, put forward jointly by the Minister of Mass Media and the President in his role as Minister of Digital Economy, to cease issuing analogue TV licenses immediately. The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission will oversee future frequency allocation as the country progresses toward fully digital terrestrial transmission.