Pradeep De Almeida
| Pradeep De Almeida | |
|---|---|
| File:Pradeep De Almeida.jpgPradeep De Almeida.jpg De Almeida in 2023 | |
| Born | Kalutara,Sri Lanka |
| 🏳️ Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| 🏫 Education | University of Moratuwa (BSc, Electronic and Telecommunication Engineering) |
| 💼 Occupation | Telecommunications Engineer, Technology Executive |
| 📆 Years active | 1996–present |
| Known for | Group CTO of Dialog Axiata PLC, Group Director at EDOTCO Group (Member of Axiata Group) |
Pradeep De Almeida is a Sri Lankan telecommunications engineer and technology executive. He is known for his extensive career at Dialog Axiata PLC, where he served as Group Chief Technology Officer (CTO), and for his role in advancing telecommunications infrastructure and services in Sri Lanka. As of 2023, he serves as the Group Director – Engineering, Technology and Innovation at EDOTCO Group.
Early life and education
Pradeep De Almeida completed his primary education at [1] and completed his Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Electronic and Telecommunication Engineering at the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, in 1996.[2] He is a Chartered Engineer and a member of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka (IESL).
Career
Dialog Axiata PLC (1996–2023)
Pradeep De Almeida joined Dialog Axiata PLC (formerly Dialog Telekom) in 1996. He initially worked in network operations and subsequently advanced through several leadership positions. In 2009, he was appointed as the Group Chief Technology Officer (CTO).
During his tenure, Pradeep De Almeida oversaw:
- Deployment of GSM (2G), 3G, 4G/LTE, and VoLTE technologies in Sri Lanka.[3]
- Launch of South Asia’s first commercial NB-IoT and LTE-M networks.[4]
- Expansion of fixed broadband services via Wireless-to-the-X (WTTx) solutions.[5]
- Establishment of Sri Lanka’s first Uptime-certified Tier III data centre.[6]
- Preparation for 5G network deployment including early testing and massive MIMO rollouts.[7]
He also chaired the South Asia Technical Experts Working Group for Axiata Group Berhad, coordinating technology strategies across Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal.
EDOTCO Group (2023–present)
In 2023, Pradeep De Almeida transitioned to EDOTCO Group, a telecommunications infrastructure company headquartered in Malaysia. He was appointed Group Director – Engineering, Technology and Innovation, overseeing tower infrastructure development, smart city projects, and technological innovations across multiple Asian markets.[8]
Contributions
Pradeep De Almeida is credited with leading several pioneering initiatives in Sri Lanka’s telecommunications sector:
- Introduction of VoLTE service in Sri Lanka.[9][10]
- Early adoption of Massive MIMO, LTE carrier aggregation, and virtualization technologies.[11]
- Expansion of mobile financial services through network integration for e-wallet solutions.
- Leadership in cybersecurity initiatives and digital transformation projects.[12]
Awards and recognition
- Ookla Speedtest Award (2018): Dialog Axiata was recognized as Sri Lanka’s fastest mobile network.[13]
- Global Telecoms Awards (2018): Won "IoT Initiative of the Year" for the deployment of a massive IoT network.[4]
Dialog Axiata received several national and international awards for network innovation and service excellence under his technical leadership.
Industry engagement
Pradeep De Almeida has represented Dialog Axiata and Sri Lanka at international forums and industry panels, including:
- Technical panels organized by the Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology (SLINTEC).[14]
- Industry conferences discussing mobile broadband expansion, cybersecurity, and 5G readiness.
- National digital transformation initiatives and private-public sector dialogues.
He has also mentored younger engineers and promoted technical excellence within the telecommunications sector.
Personal life
Pradeep De Almeida was born and raised in Kalutara, Sri Lanka. His personal interests include cricket and emerging consumer technologies. Farewell Remarks. Dialog Axiata Internal Event, November 2023. (Cited via internal report shared during leaving ceremony.) [15]
References
- ↑ Holy Cross College, Kalutara [1]
- ↑ University of Moratuwa The Alumni Association Member Page[2]
- ↑ Dialog Axiata Press Release. "Dialog Axiata leads Sri Lanka’s mobile innovation timeline." 2017. [3]
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ericsson News Center. "Dialog Axiata and Ericsson win IoT Initiative of the Year." Global Telecoms Awards, 2018. [4]
- ↑ Dialog Axiata PLC. "Annual Report 2018." Broadband Expansion Strategy. [5]
- ↑ Daily FT. "Dialog Axiata launches Sri Lanka’s first Uptime Certified Tier III Data Center." February 2021. [6]
- ↑ Light Reading. "Dialog Axiata leads Sri Lanka's 5G charge." November 2017. [7]
- ↑ EDOTCO Group Press Release. "EDOTCO Sri Lanka reaches 700th multipurpose pole milestone." November 2023. [8]
- ↑ Sri Lanka’s Dialog launches Voice over LTE [9]
- ↑ Sri Lanka’s First VoLTE Service on Dialog’s LTE Networks[10]
- ↑ Dialog Axiata commercially launched LTE TDD in 2.3 GHz (band 40) via its DBN subsidiary on December 30, 2012[11](page 41)
- ↑ Dialog Axiata PLC. "Annual Report 2020." Cybersecurity and Resilience Section. [12]
- ↑ Ookla Speedtest Awards. "Dialog recognized as Sri Lanka's fastest mobile network." 2018. [13]
- ↑ SLINTEC Innovation Forum. "Industry-Academia Collaboration in Telecommunications." 2019 Summary Report. [14]
- ↑ Farewell Remarks. Dialog Axiata Internal Event, November 2023. (Cited via internal report shared during leaving ceremony and recorded session on Youtube).[15]
This article "Pradeep De Almeida" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Pradeep De Almeida. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
