Thursday, December 27, 2018

CG Telecom to operate mobile service

The Supreme Court has ordered the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) to allow the CG Communications (CG Telecom) to operate its mobile service. A single bench of Justice Deepak Raj Joshee issued the verdict in this connection today, paving the way for the CG Telecom to bring the mobile service – popularly known as 4G service – within 2019.
After the apex court's order, Chaudhary Group (CG) said that the company will expedite process to launch the mobile service at the earliest. "Following the court's order, our company is now ready to launch the mobile service," spokesperson at the CG Group Madhusudan Poudel said.
The CG Communications had filed a case at the Supreme Court after the authority did not allow the company to run the mobile service even though the company had already acquired Unified license.
A cabinet meeting – on Jestha 14, 2074 – had decided to give license to the CG Telecom to operate the mobile service in May 2017. But the telecommunications regulator has been putting on hold the government the decision. 
Though the government had already decided to provide basic telephony license to CG Telecom, the authority invited telecommunications companies for the auction of residual spectrum in 900/1800/2100 MHz band on Poush 4, 2075. The CG Telecom went to Supreme Court against the frequency auction, which hinders them from getting frequency spectrum. Without frequency spectrum, no telecom operator can start any of the mobile service operation (2G, 3G, 4G).
The SC decision also directs NTA to treat CG Telecom in the same way as other telecom operators. Putting the spectrum auction on hold, SC instructs NTA not to hinder in any way for the operation of mobile service by giving permission to bring equipment and operate with frequency spectrum.
CG Telecom had already started paying the pending sum for the royalty and frequency fees in installment, Poudel said, "Out of total Rs 360 million, CG Telecom has paid the first installement to NTA."
CG Telecom is a subsidiary of Chaudhary Group (CG), the multi-national company from Nepal which manufacturers Wai Wai, owns Nabil Bank, CG Electronics, hotels, insurance and more. Paudel also hinted that the company has already finalised the Strategic Partnership with world renowned International company.

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