Kathmandu, January 12

The much-hyped Nepal-China Optical Fibre Link Project has begun commercial operation from today.

The cross-border internet bandwidth connectivity project was inaugurated by Minister for Information and Communications Mohan Bahadur Basnet.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Minister Basnet said that the Nepal-China optical fibre link will be a milestone to develop internet infrastructure across the country. “Though the project was conceptualised long ago, its operation got delayed due to various circumstances. However, Nepal should now fully utilise the Chinese bandwidth to increase people’s access to internet and cater quality internet service,” added Basnet.

Similarly, Secretary at the Ministry of Information and Communications (MoIC) Kedar Bahadur Adhikari, said that people’s access to internet is directly related to economic growth and overall development of the country. “Nepal’s connectivity with Chinese bandwidth will facilitate the government’s plan to expand internet infrastructure across the country and boost people’s access to the internet,” he said.

Informing that China is the second biggest trading partner of Nepal, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Yu Hong said that the bandwidth project will play a crucial role in enhancing commercial partnership between the two nations.

Meanwhile, Kamini Rajbhandari, Managing Director of NT said that the cross-border optical fibre link project with China will make it easier for Nepal to connect globally via China. “NT has always prioritised customer-centric projects and services. With the commercial operation of this optical fibre project, services of NT will be more qualitative,” she asserted.

The commercial operation of Nepal-China Optical Fibre Link Project has also ended Nepal’s sole dependence on India for internet bandwidth.

As per NT officials, Nepal will receive Chinese internet at 1.5 GB per second in the initial phase. Currently, Nepal is linked to the global internet connectivity through Indian telecom operators via different optical fibre connections in Biratnagar, Bhairahawa and Birgunj, among others. NT has been receiving internet bandwidth from Indian telecom operators at 25 GB per second.

Meanwhile, Prativa Baidhya, spokesperson for NT, informed that the optional bandwidth from China will increase the competition among various internet service providers in the country and boost the quality of internet.

NT had entered into an agreement with China Telecom to acquire internet bandwidth in December of 2016, with plans to launch the service within a year. However, commercial operation of this cross-border optical fibre link had been delayed time and again due to various technical reasons.

After the technical issues were gradually resolved, NT had begun test transmission of the project from the first week of September last year.

(UPDATED)

Sino-Nepal cross border optical fiber link comes into operation

KATHMANDU: The commercial operation of Nepal-China optical fiber link has begun from Friday. Minister for Information and Communication Mohan Bahadur Basnet launched the commercial operation amid a programme held in the capital today.

Speaking at the programme, Basnet said that the cross border optical fiber link will facilitate cooperation between Chinese and Nepali government officials.

Basnet further added that due to difficult topography and the 2015 April earthquake, the long-planned construction of the optical fiber link was halted for a long time.

Kedar Bahadur Adhikari, Secretary of Ministry of Information and member of Nepal Telecom Executive Committee said that the link will play an important role in developing the economy and the overall progress of the nation.

Yu Hong, Ambassador of China to Nepal added that China is the second largest business partner to Nepal and this development will help to expand the scope of bilateral trade between the two countries.