Kathmandu, September 25

The Development Committee of the Legislature-Parliament has directed the government to expand internet services to every local unit within next one year.

Citing that many local units in the country are yet to get basic technological services, including the internet, the committee’s meeting today asked concerned bodies of the government to expand internet services to all community schools, hospitals and public offices within September 2018.

Similarly, the committee also directed Ministry of Information and Communications (MoIC) and Nepal Telecom (NT) to connect all local units by telephone service within November 1.

“As the country has adopted the federal system, the use of technology is crucial for development and progress at the local level,” said Rabindra Adhikari, chairman of the Development Committee.

Criticising the government for delaying various internet and telecommunication projects, the House panel also directed the government, especially Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA), to give high priority to expand internet and other telecommunication services in tourist destinations like Rara Lake, Annapurna Base Camp (ABC), Sagarmatha Base Camp (SBC), Lukla, Janakpur, Lumbini, as well as various trekking routes.

Summing up that domestic telecommunication companies have not been able to improve the quality of their services, the committee also directed domestic telecom firms to make visible improvement in the quality of their service and maintain accountability while charging customers for various services.

“Telecom services, including the quality of 4G, offered by telecom companies, are very poor. NTA should coordinate with telecom companies and monitor their services so that customers can feel visible improvement in telecom services they consume,” said Adhikari.

The committee also expressed its serious concerns over country’s failure to utilise the satellite space provided to Nepal by International Telecommunication Union to enhance telecommunication services in the country. Lawmakers also asked MoIC and NTA to draft a working paper on utilising the concerned satellite space within three months.

In the meeting today, the lawmakers also said that the Telecommunications Act of 1997 is not contextual and development-friendly and directed MoIC and NTA to start the process to develop the draft of a new telecommunications act and substitute the previous act as soon as possible.

The committee also directed the government to complete the process of laying optical fibre along the Mid-Hill Highway, Postal Highway and East-West Highway promptly. While implementing the telecommunication projects along these roads, the Development Committee also urged the concerned project developers to consult and coordinate with other government bodies.