Internet Service Providers must provide internet services at least 25 percent speed of the subscribed package during peak hours. Telecom regulator Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) made the new ruling after its recent board meeting. The minimum speed requirement is aimed at improving the user experience during the most traffic-congested time of the day.
ISPs normally throttle the speed of their internet service during peak times. Most companies share an individual internet connection among either 4 or 8 subscribers. The result is the broadband performance is not what it seems on paper unless you are on a dedicated internet plan. But during these times, the performance gets worse. Mostly, the internet network staggers around 6 PM to 10 PM as more people return home from and stay indoors using the internet service. Internet consumption goes at its highest during these late hours of the day.
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A minimum 25 percent internet speed during peak hours will improve broadband performance
ISPs lower the internet speed of their subscribers so that their broadband performance is shared uniformly among the customers. In another word, decreasing the internet speed of its users helps ISPs deliver similar internet speeds to all. But on the contrary, users have often complained of fragile connectivity during peak hours. Do read: How to improve internet Speed of home Wifi?
Slow loading, frequent disconnection, and video buffering have been issues for many internet users during the most-busy internet hours. With the number of fiber internet growing by the day, maintenance of reliable and consistent internet service may have also posed a hurdle for service providers. However, NTA has made a ruling which could force ISPs to differently strategize their internet service during peak hours.
The Nta board is going to implement the new regulation after deciding to amend its “Bylaw regarding Telecommunications Service Quality 2073”. The authority said that the regulation will be applicable to every internet package ISPs offer in their service.
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Nta brought the bylaw after complaints grew on poor internet performance than promised in peak hours due to high internet traffic.