Kathmandu, Apr. 30
The federal government has responded to the request of the Nepal Telecommunication Company Limited (NTCL) not to cut and remove the cable network installed by the corporation.
Upon the request of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MoCIT), the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration (MoFAGA) on Sunday requested all local governments across the country to cooperate with the NTCL and not to damage the cable network.
NTCL on April 21 had written to the MoCIT requesting the ministry to save its information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure. It had said that the local governments including that of the country's Capital, Kathmandu Metropolis, have been haphazardly cutting the cable networks expanded by the company which has disturbed the telephone, internet and television services in the respective areas.
Many consumers are deprived of the basic communication and entertainment facilities provided by the company because of such acts.
"We need to import a large quantity of cables from foreign countries to rehabilitate the damaged network. It will take a lot of time, and the company, as well as the country, has to bear additional economic burden and pressure on foreign currency reserve," NTCL said to the ministry.
It said that it was sensitive about maintaining the urban beauty and putting efforts for cable management in cooperation with the respective local bodies, especially municipal governments. "Hence, we request the ministry to preserve the infrastructure of telecommunication in collaboration with the concerned local bodies," read the letter of the NTCL.
The Communication Ministry has also expressed concerns about the negative impact on the economy of the company and country due to random disturbances to the cable network which is key to the communication services.
The NTCL has also requested the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport and decided to request the provincial governments via the Prime Minister's Office for the cause.
Earlier, in September 2021, the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) had launched a drive to cut and remove the internet cables from its poles as the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) refused to pay the rent hiked by the energy authority's infrastructure.
As the ISPs and telecommunication service providers don't come together in terms of sharing the infrastructure and hang separate cables for their services, all the cities across the country have an ugly look due to entangled wires.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 1 May 2023.
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