NT launches CDMA telephone service, slashes tariff on cellular phones

Nepal Telecom (NT), state run Telecommunications Company, has launched CDMA based basic telephone (C-phone) services in Kathmandu valley, on the occasion of His Majesty King’s birthday.

“This will not only facilitate people to obtain telephone lines on demand at any time, but will also allow the laptop users to browse internet and send and receive facsimile messages at any place without the use of telephone wires,” reports quoted Managing Director of NT, Sugat Ratna Kansakar as saying at the launching program of the services in Kathmandu on Thursday.

According to Kansakar, commercial operation of the latest wireless technology will begin from November and NT has planned to distribute a total of one million C-phone lines throughout the country by 2008. In the first phase, it would distribute 100,000 lines in Kathmandu and 75,000 lines each in Bhairahawa and Biratnagar.

Nearly 144 commercial telephone operators in 66 different countries have adopted CDMA and WCDMA technologies, reports said.

Meanwhile, though pre-paid mobile services in Kathmandu and postpaid services outside Kathmandu remain suspended since the royal takeover of February 1, the NT has slashed tariffs on cellular phone services. As per the new announcements, the NT has decided to reduce the cost of outgoing calls from both pre and post paid mobile phones .

The NT has distributed 2,49000 mobile phone lines in Nepal including 1,73,200 pre-paid ones of which t he government from May 2 resumed 40,000 post-paid lines only in the Kathmandu Valley.

Under the new pricing structure, incoming calls from NT operated services have been made free. A call made from a post-paid cell phone costs Rs 3 and Rs 1.50 during peak (8p.m. – 8 a.m.) and off (8p.m. – 8 a.m.) hours, respectively. While the same call from pre-paid mobile costs Rs 3.50 and Rs 2.50 during peak and off hours, respectively. On Saturdays, it costs Rs 1.50 and Rs 2.50 to make a call from pre and post paid mobile services respectively.

Moreover, the NT has also slashed the installation cost of postpaid line to Rs 5,115. However, postpaid line with ISD facility costs Rs 7,115. Similarly, installation cost on pre-paid phone has been reduced to Rs 1,165 from Rs 1,700.

The new pricing structures have come into effect from Thursday, 59 th birthday of His Majesty the King. nepalnews.com pd July 08 05