Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has requested local levels across the Nepal to report regarding the status of broadband connectivity in their offices. The authority seeks to ensure high-speed internet at local level office which is one of its objectives for the free broadband project.
In a notice, the authority urged local governments to inform it whether the broadband connection is available in their offices or not. Under this project, NTA connected fiber internet connection at local-level offices and ward offices. The authority used rural telecommunication development funds (RTDF) to establish high-speed connection at local government offices. Also called RTDF-funded broadband project, it cost Rs 5.7 billion.
Earlier, NTA invited missing local levels for this broadband service. Now, it’s making another attempt to make sure that every local level and ward offices have the high-speed internet connection.
NTA seeks broadband connection status from local levels
NTA says that some local levels or ward offices may have missed out on the RTDF broadband service due to changes in federal systems. Therefore, it demanded information such as names of the local levels, ward offices, availability of broadband service (Yes/No), ISP name, etc. The objective is to know the current state of the project’s coverage and make plans for further expansion if necessary.
As planned, local levels got the connection for free for up to two years. But after that, they need to pay as a customer of their respective ISPs.
The authority requested that local levels send information about the broadband connection in 15 days.
Also: NTA completes RTDF Mid-Hill optical fiber project in Koshi Province, ready for sharing
The free RTDF broadband project helped bring fiber internet to local government offices in rural land remote rural areas. Some of these places included offices in earthquake-hit regions. The local level and ward offices received a 20 Mbps fiber connection for free for up to two years. Now, as that free duration has concluded, they need to pay as a customer.
The broadband project of NTA is a large scale initiative from the authority. It’s aim is to promote connectivity and elevate government services in local levels and ward offices for better public services. It’s headed with RTDF which means all the telecom companies in Nepal have paid their 2% of annual revenue in this project.
