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| Kathmandu, Tuesday March 18, 2003 Chaitra 04, 2059. |
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NTC’s capacity
I would like to make following comments on the
article "Mobile revolution in India, Nepal ages behind", dated March 17, 2003,
TKP. Nepal has just reached mobile-density (mobile users per 100 population) of about 0.13
percent compared to 0.9 percent in India, 15 percent in China and more than 50 percent in
other developed countries, which means Nepal and India are "ages behind". NTC
has immediate capacity to increase mobile subscribers from existing 30,000 to about 75,000
lines and subscribers are increasing at the rate of about 2500 new connections per month.
NTC has a plan to expand coverage area and install 100,000 more lines within next few
years. NTC has nothing to do with delay in introducing private mobile companies and has no
"objection" to "allow private operators to launch the services". The
regulatory body Nepal Telecommunication Authority is supposed to be responsible for
introducing competition in all kinds of telecom services. Jayshi should have done more
homework and at least should have gone through the New Telecom Act, before making
derogatory remarks.
Recently, NTC had already slashed mobile tariff
by almost 33 percent and NTC shall introduce "affordable" pre-paid mobile
service in very near future. Apart from satisfying urban intellectuals, NTC is also
shouldering the responsibility of expanding basic telecom services to the remotest
villages, one of the toughest terrains in the world. Both from the point of view of
technology and investment, building of rural telecom infrastructure, especially in
mountainous areas, is considered more challenging than "to take a lead in ushering
the cell phone revolution in the Himalayan Kingdom" which NTC has already initiated.
Sugat Ratna Kansakar
Deputy General Manager
Nepal Telecommunications Corporation |
