‘Do not provide telecom services without licence’

Kathmandu, May 9

In the backdrop of complaints registered at Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) citing that various firms have been delivering internet services without acquiring licences, the telecommunication sector regulator today published a notice warning against such illegal activities.

Moreover, NTA has started investigating the issue and has said that providing any sort of telecommunication services without acquiring licence from NTA is an offence.

“We have already deployed special investigation teams to cross-check if complaints are true. In case we find any firm catering telecommunication services, including internet service, without acquiring NTA’s permission, the firm will be subject to legal action,” said Min Prasad Aryal, spokesperson for NTA.

As per the Telecommunications Act, 1997, operation of telecommunication services is strictly prohibited without obtaining the licence to do so.

However, act has not talked about the type of action that could be taken against those operating telecommunication services without acquiring licences.

As per Aryal, NTA management will decide on the action that could be taken against such offences if they really exist.

Aryal said that delivering telecommunication services without acquiring licence will not only affect government’s revenue, but will directly impact the competitive growth of the telecommunication industry in the country.