KATHMANDU:Nepal Telecom (NT) is planning new projects in the new fiscal year that started on Thursday.

In the fiscal year 2009-10, NT will distribute 2.2 million GSM mobile links, add 4,00,000 CDMA lines and 50,000 PSTN services, said NT managing director Amar Nath Singh. “NT is working to increase its reach and also trying to meet customers’ expectations by providing value-added services.” Along with the addition in its distribution services, NT will have a total of 70 lakh total customers with a total line capacity of 86 lakh.

During the fiscal year 2007-08 NT’s total tele

density was 10.12 per cent, which increased to 15.5 per cent in 2008-09. NT’s current penetration rate is 66 per cent. “Our achievements till date are quite satisfactory,” said Singh.,

Within six months, NT plans to extend its Broadband Internet Service (ADSL service) to 40 major cities aside from Kathmandu Valley and in all 75 districts within this fiscal year. This will generate an additional 85,000 customers. “As the demand for wireless broadband service is increasing, we are trying to increase it to one lakh lines with 3G mobile distribution under GSM service while under CDMA service NT will soon introduce Evolution Data Only (EVDO),” said Singh.

The budget 2009-10 has allocated NT a budget

of Rs 45 billion of which

Rs 10.59 billion is for capital expenditure.

Along with extension of services, NT is also planning to use solar power and increase the battery capacity at the BTS towers. It plans to install generators at BTS stations wherever possible.