Kathmandu, Mar. 2 : Nepal Telecommunications Authority (nta) constituted by hmg with the objective of intensifying the pace of development and expansion of telecommunications services with the participation of the private sector has entered the third year today.
Hmg had constituted nta in March, 1998 in accordance with the Telecommunications Act-2053 B.S. With a view to make the telecommunications services reliable and easily accessible and to provide healthy competition in the telecommunications services.
Nta has so far provided 11 licences of Internet (including e-mail), three of Fax Mail, five of Radio Paging, five of vsat network, four of vsat network user, and one each of video conferencing and cellular mobile telephone.
As there is more competition in internet, radio paging and vsat network services, the users have been benefited from it.
Providers of services other than cellular mobile telephones have so far invested Rs. 200 million and provided direct employment to 50 persons.
According to a press release issued by the nta, investors will be invited in the next fiscal year 2000-2001 to make investment in the operation of basic telephone services and cellular mobile telephones to ensure competition.
Likewise, the nta has the objective of ensuring the participation of the private sector to provide telecommunications services to about 534 vdcs in the eastern development region.
Directives have already been issued for inter-linking the operated telecommunications services while necessary studies have been undertaken and the process of the national numbering plan has already been initiated, it has been mentioned in the press release.
Likewise, nta will formulate a working procedure from next year for the redressal of the complaints of the customers.
The license for operating basic telephone services will based on W.L.L. Technology, and standard and reliable services to be received after the competition in the services will help in the development and expansion of the telecommunications services, it is believed.