Thousands queue up as Telecom opens registration of new cellular lines
Long queues were seen outside the Nepal Telecom offices Tuesday as registration of new postpaid mobile phone lines was opened.
Thousands of people stayed in queues at Telecom’s Tripureshwor and Jawalakhel offices from as early as 7:00 in the morning to register application forms. By the time office hours started at 9:30, the crowd was unmanageable and had police had to use force to control them.
Most applicants staying in queues said they had to opt for postpaid mobile phone lines, as they saw no possibility of early resumption of prepaid cellular lines. The Telecom has planned to distribute 50,000 new lines this time around.
The New Service Directorate of the Telecom has said distribution of postpaid SIM cards will begin within this week after necessary screening of the applications. “Those who have registered forms today will receive SIM cards on Friday. Names of eligible clients will be posted on our website,” Directorate chief Madan Kali Shakya said and added that preparations were in place for early resumption of pre-paid mobile phone services.
“Prepaid lines will definitely resume. We are working on that,” he told reporters.
The government had disconnected all mobile phone services on Feb 1 when King Gyanendra sacked the Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government and assumed direct power.
Postpaid mobile phones had partially resumed in Kathmandu a few months earlier and this week in Biratnagar and Pokhara. Until Feb 1, the Telecom had distributed 249,000 mobile phone lines including 173,000 prepaid lines across the country. nepalnews.com mbk July 19 05
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