The World Bank Wednesday gave Nepal a $22.56 million credit to finance the telecommunications reform project after government partially privatized the telecommunications sector, an announcement said.

The telecommunications sector reform project includes institutional building focused on strengthening policy and regulatory capacities and licensing of a private rural operator through a market mechanism to provide telecommunications services in 534 rural communities in east Nepal accounting for roughly 25 percent of all rural polulation nation-wide.

“The project will promote the private sector and increase rural access to telecommunications services,” an announcement said.