Private internet service provider Vianet Communication Ltd. has paid its rural telecommunications development fund (RTDF) and royalty fees to the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA). The company made the payment to the government after the authority told ISPs to pay their RTDF and royalty amount by the end of the month (Monday, Poush 29, 2081).
The ISP submitted Rs thirty-nine crore, fifty-eight lakh, twenty-nine thousand, four hundred, and forty-nine to NTA in RTDF and royalty fees. Out of which, the company paid twenty-six crore, seventy-seven lakh, forty-three thousand in royalty, and twelve crore, eighty lakh, and eighty-six thousand in RTDF fees. Every telecom service provider needs to pay a certain amount in royalty and RTDF per revenue annually.
| Vianet payment | RTDF | Royalty |
| Rs 395,829,449 | Rs 128,086,000 | Rs 267,743,000 |
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Vianet submits RTDF and royalty fees
NTA sources have confirmed the payment. According to the authority, the ISP had the payment due from fiscal year FY 2075/76. The company paid the amount in both RTDF, royalty, and other categories.
The move follows strict instructions from NTA to service providers to pay off their dues. Previously, WorldLink and Subisu also paid their RTDF and royalty fees to the authority.
Sources state that Vianet will still need to pay Rs 15 crore to NTA under the same categories.
Paying off the arrears to the government eases the ISP’s proceedings. It will also facilitate the process for its license renewal process. In prior events, NTA issued strict warnings to ISPs on account of their failure to pay off their RTDF fees. This was notable just recently as well. However, the ISP’s payment eases its proceedings with the government.
The company was launched in 1999 and since then has become a household ISP for customers. The company is the first in Nepal to launch fiber internet, IPTV service, and a 2 Gbps internet package, among others.
