Country needs policy on data, cyber security

Kathmandu, Mar. 28

Chairman of the Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA), Purushottam Khanal has said that Nepal immediately needs policies on data security and cyber security.

"The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) scenario is changing rapidly globally which has increased the risks at the same time. To protect valuable government information and public data, we need policy on data and cyber security," he said at an interaction organised by Nepal Association of Financial Journalists (NAFIJ) with the support from the NTA. 

Khanal also said that the implementation of federalism has increased the cost and complexity of ICT sector development as a single office is needed to expanded into eight offices.

However, he maintained that the telecom sector regulator was serious about the delivery quality service and protection consumer right in the sector. "We have fined the companies up to Rs. 1 billion," he said.

According to him, implementation of ICT in government process is yet to be a 'truly online service' since all the physical processes have been kept intact while implementing the online facility.

Khanal said that the quality of internet was also affected by other elements like electricity and tower, and urged the Nepal Electricity Authority to manage quality supply of energy.

Speaking on the occasion, Director General of the Department of Transport Management, Narayan Bhattarai, said that the department was soon implementing online system in transport revenue payment.

"We are coordinating with the Department of National ID and Civil Registration to use the biometric data. Meanwhile, we also lack skilled human resource to manage the ICT facility which will be fulfilled in near future," he said.

Chief Operating Officer of Infodevelopers, Dr. Rajib Subba, criticised that the 'online' service is not online. He pointed to make policy overhaul to improve the quality and speed of service.

General Secretary of the CAN Federation, Chiranjibi Adhikari, said that although the country had good policies but there is a question about them being friendly to service seekers. He said that the government has failed to deliver services in the far-flung areas.

Adhikari also said that more than Rs. 20 billion is being taken out of the country to procure various government software, and suggested to hire Nepali companies to develop such products.

Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Anil Dutta, said that the government was implementing ICT sector development and facilitating the private sector as per the Digital Nepal Framework 2018.

 Deputy Director of the NTA, Binod Chandra Shrestha said that internet service has been expanded to 733 local levels. The ICT sector has a contribution of Rs. 84 billion (3.71 per cent) to the national Gross Domestic Product. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 29 March 2023.