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Kathmandu Saturday November 10, 2001 Kartik 25, 2058.
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Internet users rise by 8000
annually
Vijay Babu Khatri
KATHMANDU, Nov 9 - The annual growth of Internet
users in Nepal posts over eight thousand, a study says.
The statistical data on the number of Internet
Users in Nepal compiled by Nepal Telecommunication Corporation (NTC) show that as of
fiscal year 2000/2001 end, 24,957 organisations and individuals used Internet services.
A study commissioned by NTC said more than 2000
individuals in Nepal opened their Internet account during the first four months of the
year 2001 while on-the-spot survey and web-site inquiry conducted by International
Telecommunication Union (ITU) from January 17-21, last year says that at least 8,852
individuals acquired the internet services during the first four months the fiscal year
2000/2001.
Computer Association of Nepal (CAN) had last
year put the estimate at around 18000 for all those acquiring the membership from various
Internet Service Providers (ISP). CAN estimates say that the Internet service contracted
for by each family or an organisation is being used by at least five additional users.
From the 100,000 internet users last fiscal year, there are now 200,000 users, CAN
estimates said.
IT experts say the number of Internet Users in
Nepal has doubled primarily because the number of Internet cafes have quadrupled and the
fee for browsing the Internet has considerably dipped.
The once-expensive and limited Cyber Cafes found
in some parts of the capital’s Thamel and Durbarmarg areas are now mushrooming around
almost every where.
Similarly, the monthly fee paid for the use of
Internet some three years back amounting to Rs 3000 has declined to less than Rs 1000.
This has also fuelled the sprawling growth of Internet Cafes in Nepal.
Kailash Neupane, Spokesperson at the NTC, said
the rise in the Internet users has skyrocketed due to a rise in Internet Service Providers
(ISP) following steep competition between them. There are now 15 ISPs in Nepal.
Similarly, a rise in the VSAT network and its
users has fuelled the use of internet on an ever increasing scale.
The increasing demand for internet services has
also been triggered off by the demand for on-line phone services provided by computers
which is cheaper than telephone services.
The attractions offered by hordes of
international on-line newspapers and ready-to-use study materials posted on the web-sites
have also fuelled the trend.
Students hungering to study abroad obtaining
information from the Internet have also raised the number of users. For those who cannot
afford to study abroad, the on-line study courses and examinations offered by the myriad
institutions on the downloadable and accessible web-site have also led to an astronomical
height of the growth of internet services.
Hunched before a computer monitor in Kathmandu,
one can appear the examinations in New York. Further more, the government has imposed no
legislative ban on the on-line chat that has a found large customers in Nepal.
The ITU survey report said the multinational
organisations like the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and World Bank each
consumes 20 percent internet services in Nepal, while domestic, governmental,
non-governmental organisation, educational institutions and business organisations consume
20 percent, 5 percent, 15 percent, 30 percent and 10 percent respectively.
Dipesh Acharya, Chief of a branch office of NTC,
said that some Internet companies have been able to draw a large customers offering
attractive market policies while some companies have not been able to put the buttering up
they deserve at attracting even a trivial number of customers.
Statistics compiled by the Internet Division of
the NTC show that the World Link Communication has the largest membership of around 7500
internet users, while Info-Com Private Limited has garnered around 5000 and Mercantile
around 4000. NTC has around 2000, Everest Net 1152 and Computer Land Communication System
has 1500 customers in all.
Two years ago, the World Link Communications had
just 4350 Internet users, mercantile had 1347 and Computer Land 887. The users have
increased phenomenally over the last two years, the study said.
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