Nepal Telecom has formed a Model Telecommunication Service Development Project (Implementation Unit) across 19 districts to provide model services as part of its sample district initiative. The plan aims at providing high-quality services (mobile and FTTH fiber internet, etc.) with dedicated infrastructure starting for the 19 distractions and then across the country.
Nepal Telecom Manager Dr. Bimal Acharya shared that the model service implementation unit will facilitate the development of telecommunication services in the “model districts”.
The initiation took off from Jajarkot
Earlier, the company started its industry-defining “Sample Model Districts” (Namuna Jilla) initiative from the earthquake-stricken district of Jajarkot. For this, the company set up a mobile tower in Rimna, Bheri Rural Municipality-1. This officially commenced the state-backed company’s ambitious project of providing dedicated communication service in remote districts. NTC’s Managing Director Sangita Pahadi had recently inspected the area enabling the speedy beginning of this project.
After starting the sample service, subscribers will get a free SIM card and high-quality internet service backed by the dedicated infrastructure. Despite being part of the headquarters, the area still had low cellular network coverage. The company’s revolutionary project seems to address it.
MD Pahadi shared that the company has started work to build a new mobile tower in Dalli, the administrative center of Nalgad Municipality. A team including him has carried out on-site monitoring throughout the district and identified the areas that had difficulty with network coverage.
As per Director Pahadi, the inspection was carried out with the aim of expanding “sample districts” services throughout Jajarkot and Rukum West. The team assessed the condition and capacity of towers in the Earthquake-stricken areas.
Recently, a high-level team of the company reached the village on the instructions of the Minister of Communication and Information Technology (MoCIT Minister) Rekha Sharma and the request of the Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation (MoEWRI Minister) Shakti Bahadur Basnet.
Pahadi also shared that the company will soon deploy technicians by coordinating with the municipality for the construction of additional towers at the required locations.
Ntc sample / Model districts project aims to deliver high-quality communication services
Ntc has started its groundbreaking “Model Districts, Model Services” initiative to ensure reliable and high-quality services to its customers. The company said that it will implement advanced technologies in those districts to address customer demands for quality services.
This initiative will ensure communication services across all the settlements, highways, tourism, and religious areas. Efforts will be applied to bring the connectivity as far as possible; the state-backed company says in a statement. Proceeding in phases, the company has currently identified 19 such districts to headstart its “sample district, sample service” plan.
Also find out: Ntc 4G Coverage Reaches 98 Percent in Local Levels | Latest Update
Customers will get prompt maintenance and service resumption in sample districts
In sample districts, Ntc customers will be able to buy services and have fiber internet services installed or repaired by making a phone call at the company’s call centers.
Likewise, any customer complaints will receive a prompt address for immediate service restoration. To ensure uninterrupted services, Ntc will coordinate with Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), Drink Water Corporation, Road, and other concerned bodies for the timely completion of construction works. This will help avert the network outage situations happening in different parts of the country. The plan will be to cut down the cases of service interruption from any issue possible.
First phase sample districts for Ntc
In the future, the company intends to follow its Sample Districts project for the entire country. In the first phase, Nepal Telecom has selected the Earthquake-affected districts- Jajrkot and Rukum West and Morang, Khotang, Udaypur, Dhanusha, Rautahat, Makwanpur, and Sindhuli as sample districts. The same list also includes Kaski, Gorkha, Dang, Gulmi, Surkhet, Jumla, Kailali, Bajura, Bardiya, and Rolpa.
To proceed with this plan, Ntc will establish networks by implementing Standard Sets and Services in the above districts. As per need, additional infrastructures will be installed and expanded, says the company.
This project will use innovative technologies and network infrastructures will be used as far as feasible from a technical and geographic perspective. On average, over 90% of Nepal is under the coverage of Ntc mobile and NT Fiber services. This includes high-speed mobile broadband network 4G, legacy services- 3G & 2G, and NT fiber service. Now, Ntc plans to elevate its commitment to uniform service quality across the sample districts.
“Availability of necessary skilled manpower will be ensured by making additional plans to maintain the availability of services at the specified quality and speed,” Ntc adds.
This could be a groundbreaking way ahead!
The plan to designate “Sample Districts” and provide sample services could be a game-changer for the company and the country. Nepal, at the moment, is seeing an internet boom with an exponential increase in internet and smartphone use. The recent CBS data has it that around 38% of Nepalese now have internet access in their homes. Thanks to this, the ICT industry is also flourishing. In 2022 alone, Nepali tech professionals imported IT services worth Rs 67 billion.
It’s barely a debate that the internet and communication have become the need. But there are still remote areas in plenty that are without basic communication services. The sample district policy of Ntc could become revolutionary in bridging that digital divide with dedicated network infrastructure, area-specific planning, and local intervention. To be fair, it is also a necessity for the company amidst a cut-throat fiber completion from private ISPs.
Ntc has the lead in broadband services
Ntc is Nepal’s largest communication company and occupies 61.95% of the market share in Nepal’s voice service. In the mobile broadband market, it boasts another huge 68.17% market share. The company has also made tremendous growth with its FTTH internet service in recent years. The company boasts 2 lakh, 48 thousand, and 385 users as of the latest NTA data. Must read: 10 Best Reasons You Can Choose Ntc Fiber Internet Packages For Your Home Internet
With sample districts, we assume Ntc plans to start an industry-defining initiative providing high-quality services which would likely reflect speed, consistency, and reliability. We may be seeing a culture shift in terms of providing services here and a significant boost to the digital Nepal goals.
