Page 120 - SAMENA Trends - June-August 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Nepal

The Nepal Telecommunications Authority said it would be service, 20 percent have to do with router problems,” he said. “We
issuing a guideline for wireless routers suspecting they may hope the guideline will mitigate problems in internet services to
be the reason behind poor internet connections, following a some extent.” Parajuli said that counterfeit routers were rampant
flurry of complaints from users that service quality fell short in the market and they were difficult to tell apart from the original
of international standards. The telecommunication regulator product. “But with the implementation of the guideline, which will
said low quality or duplicate equipment could be one of the key require type certification before the import, duplicate products will
reasons behind poor quality of connections. Internet service be prevented from reaching the market. (August 15, 2021) kathmandupost.
providers concur that inferior routers have flooded the market, com
and type certification is necessary to stop the import of such
low-grade devices. Min Prasad Aryal, Director of the Authority, The National Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has issued a
told the Post that as per the plan, the new guideline for wireless new bylaw governing telecom infrastructure sharing and related
routers would be implemented within a month. “The preparation charges. It is hoped the regulation, approved on 13 July, will
of the draft guideline is in the final phase,” he said, adding that enable the country’s operators to extend service coverage and
as the internet has become an essential service, complaints lower consumer prices by reducing unnecessary investment in
about its quality have proliferated. “This may be due to the low redundant infrastructure. Under the new bylaw, a service provider
quality of routers,” Aryal said. After the draft is ready, the board cannot reject or delay a request for access from another company,
will approve the guideline. The authority will then direct internet while requests will be made on a ‘first come, first served’ basis
service providers to implement it, said Aryal. “The authority will and any infrastructure must be used within three months or the
also conduct market inspection to check whether the routers sold agreement will be cancelled. Companies granted shared access
in the stores meet the standards determined by the guideline. The will also be prohibited from leasing the infrastructure to another
router uses frequency signals which can impact the speed of the service provider. The directive lists 18 different types of passive
internet connection if the device is of low quality, Aryal said. The infrastructure for sharing, including fiber ports, dark fiber cabling,
use of substandard terminal equipment also impacts the quality wireless network point to point data and base transceiver stations
of internet service. According to the Department of Customs, the (BTS), and sets maximum monthly access charges. Assets
value of router imports jumped by nearly 10-fold to Rs2.15 billion deployed as part of the government subsidized Rural Telecoms
in the last fiscal year ended mid-July. Nepal imported 805,280 Development Fund will be subject to lower fees than those owned
sets of routers in fiscal 2020-21 against 115,374 units in 2019- by an operator. (August 4, 2021) commsupdate.com
20. The country buys most of its routers from China. The cost
ranges from Rs2,900 to Rs4,200 apiece depending on quality. NTA will provide free internet to community campuses across
Nokia and Huawei are the most common brands in the domestic Nepal. The telecommunications authority will serve broadband
market, according to service providers. Aryal said that the internet without any fare for two years. The decision comes as
guideline for routers would also lay down the liability of internet per the FY 078/79 budget by Nepal government for broadband
service providers. It will define a clear role of internet companies reinforcement. However, the program was started under Parbat
while installing these wireless devices. “Once the guideline goes Gurung’s leadership, the former Minister of Communication and
into effect, customers will get a warranty on the router, including Information Technology. The campaign started free broadband
replacement and maintenance, among other facilities,” Aryal said. service from earthquake-ravaged 8 districts. Now, NTA will itself
“The quality of internet connections should not be compromised lead the initiative to provide free internet to community campuses
due to the router.” The guideline will protect customer rights as around the country. NTA has sanctioned a seventy crores budget
it will also address capacity, security issues and standard. The for the project which will bring fiber broadband services to public
standard will apply to routers that are sold in the market and campuses and basic schools around the country in installments.
which consumers install themselves, Aryal said. The authority As per the news, NTA will fund all the required equipment and
will issue type approval of routers before they are imported to infrastructure charges for the broadband connections. NTA is in
ensure quality and standards, the telecom regulator said. Internet talks with community campuses in 8 districts severely affected
service providers said that the number of internet users had by earthquakes. To call for the internet connection, the concerned
doubled, resulting in a massive import of routers. According to the campus will require to produce a recommendation letter by their
authority, 25 percent of Nepal’s total population of 30 million had affiliated university. Earlier, the regulator has also planned to
subscribed to fixed broadband as of mid-July, compared to 17.74 provide 20Mbps internet in every ward of the country. The eight
percent a year earlier. There are 7.85 million fixed broadband districts to receive the first batch of internet roll-out are Dolakha,
subscribers, including wired and wireless networks. Sudhir Ramechhap, Okhaldhunga, Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Sindhupalchok,
Parajuli, president of the Internet Service Providers’ Association Kabhrepalanchok, and Sindhuli. In case, the campuses have a
of Nepal, said that they welcome the guideline which will help to low-speed ADSL service, the plan is to upgrade them to 20 Mbps
get standard products in the market. “This will ultimately benefit fiber service. On the contrary, NTA will set up a new connection on
customers,” said Parajuli, who is also the chairman of Subisu its own expenses. (July 26, 2021) nepalitelecom.com
Cable Net. “Among the complaints that we receive about our
120 JUN-AUG 2021