Nepal Telecom (Ntc) has struck a new agreement with Indian telcos Tata and Bharti Airtel for bandwidth. The company will now import up to 200 Gbps bandwidth from the two bandwidth providers. As per the agreement, Tata and Airtel will coordinate 60% and 40% bandwidth respectively to Nepal Telecom. However, this is not the start of the transaction for the three. Both Indian companies have been providing services to Nepal Telecom. It’s only that now the volume of bandwidth has further increased.
On Chaitra 16, the company issued a tender for 200 Gbps bandwidth and the two Indian companies earned the responsibility for the same. the agreement lasts three years. Ntc shared that it signed the agreement with Tata on Bhadra 13 and with Airtel on Poush 05. In agreement with Airtel, the agreement papers were signed by MD Sangita Pahadi on behalf of Nepal Telecom and Deputy General Manager (DGM)-sales Bharat Gulati representing Airtel. The company has not shared the cost of bandwidth.
Both Tata and Airtel are regular upstreamers for Nepali communication companies. These companies also provide bandwidth to Nepal’s top internet service providers (ISPs). Recently, there was a saga over the possible internet shutdown in Nepal due to payment issues for bandwidth providers. The two haven’t received payment for their bandwidth for months causing them to warn of cutting bandwidth supply to Nepali communication companies. The warning has stalled for now though. Anyway, that issue wouldn’t have affected Ntc’s services.
For Ntc, the current bandwidth agreement has been reached for a very affordable rate and that could help the company with its finances. This could also entitle a possibility of cheaper service for the customers. The company will use the bandwidth to provide mobile services including 4G, 3G, and Ntc FTTH fiber internet, etc. Nepal Telecom buys its bandwidth from China Telecom, Tata, and Airtel.