Nepal Telecom rolls out 4G in 77 districts

Nepal Telecom (NT) has successfully expanded its 4G telecom service in all the 77 districts across the country.
Speaking during an event organised to mark the 16th anniversary of the state-owned telecommunication company, here today, managing director of NT Dilli Ram Adhikari claimed that the company had successfully tested its 4G telecom service in Simikot, the headquarters of Humla district, on Tuesday (???). “Humla was the last district that was to be connected to NT’s 4G service.”
With the successful expansion of its 4G service in Humla, NT has become the first and largest telecom service provider of the country, he confirmed, adding that the NT has – till date – installed 3,683 4G service compatible base transceiver station (BTS) towers across Nepal and has also set up 200 towers recently that are only 4G compatible.
Claiming that the NT is expanding its service as per the demand from the consumers, Adhikari said that the NT plans to upgrade 2,200 BTS towers to make them 4G compatible, while add new 640 4G BTS towers across the country soon. “The company has started to implement the federal system and is in the process of converting its regional offices into provincial headquarters to provide effective service to NT subscribers.”
The state-owned telecom company has been working hard to expand its services to compete with the private sector telecom service providers. But it has been riled by the increasing trade union activities, decelerating the productivity of employees.
Addressing the programme, minister for Communications and Information Technology Gokul Prasad Baskota took a swipe at the trade unions. “The government will not tolerate anyone trying to permeate politics in state companies that provide essential services,” he said, adding that the ones, who are interested in politics should join the political parties. 

Ncell wins additional spectrum in 1,800 megahertz bandwidth

Ncell has acquired additional spectrum in the 1,800 megahertz bandwidth through the first-ever frequency auction held by the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) today for residual spectrum in the given bandwidth.
Currently, Ncell utilises 11 megahertz under 1800 band to relay cellular and data 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) services, and 8 megahertz under the 900 band to provide 3G services in remote and rural areas, But Ncell will be allowed to use the frequency – it won today – only after it clears outstanding capital gains tax (CGT).
Though, it is the highest bidder, Ncell will not be able to purchase all the available remaining 16 MHz in the 1,800 MHz bandwidth as telecom companies are limited to use maximum of 20 MHz in any bandwidth. As Ncell is already using 11 MHz in the 1,800 MHz bandwidth, it can now purchase maximum of 9 MHz in the bandwidth.
With a bid amount of Rs 58 million per MHz, Ncell became the highest bidder surpassing the state-owned Nepal Telecom, which made a bid of Rs 50 million per MHz.
Earlier, the telecom sector regulator had called for spectrum auction for available 16 MHz in the 1,800 MHz bandwidth. Out of the available 75 megahertz bandwidth under the 1800 spectrum, 59 megahertz is currently assigned to five telecommunications companies, and the NTA has now auctioned the residual frequency of 16 megahertz.
Frequency spectrum is one of the important resources in the telecommunication sector without which operators cannot start wireless mobile service. The company with higher frequency spectrum can provide efficient services to its customers. The spectrum is expected to enable the concerned telecommunication operator to enhance the speed of 4G service at low cost while helping to expand its coverage. The telecom companies prefer 1,800 MHz bandwidth for GSM and 4G technology.
Initially, NTA had called for spectrum auction for available frequencies across all 900 MHz, 1,800 MHz and 2,100 MHz bandwidths. But auction across two other bandwidths could not take place as Ncell was the only company to express interest in the frequency auction of 900 MHz and 2,100 MHz bandwidths.
The Ncell will not be allowed to immediately use the additional spectrum in the 1,800 MHz that the company won today as it is facing tax issues, though NTA had allowed Ncell’s participation in the spectrum auction only on the condition that it will use additional spectrum in the given bandwidth – if it becomes the highest bidder – only after it clears all its tax liabilities, including CGT.
“Though Ncell was the highest bidder in the spectrum auction held today, NTA will allow the company to use additional frequency in the 1,800 MHz band only after Ncell clears its tax liabilities to the government,” the authority informed.
The Supreme Court in November said Ncell could pay Rs 21.10 billion in CGT against the Rs 39.06 billion determined by the tax authorities. Last April, the Large Taxpayers' Office had asked Ncell to pay Rs 39.06 billion in CGT, following which Ncell had moved the apex court seeking annulment of the decision taken by taxmen. Ncell, however, is yet to clear the amount.
Due to specifications for participating in the spectrum auction, no other telecom company except NT and Ncell could participate in the frequency auction. The spectrum auction notice had mentioned that telecom companies had to either have a basic telephony service licence or unified licence, clear all dues including royalty, RTDF and spectrum fees to be eligible to participate. Smart Cell and UTL are yet to clear the dues of frequency that they are using, while CG Telecom has not been granted unified license yet.
CG Telecom – citing that NTA was biased – had, however, filed a case in the Supreme Court a week ago seeking stay on the NTA’s frequency auction process. But the apex court did not issue a stay order.
The Chaudhary Group subsidiary filed the writ on Sunday stating that the regulator had not provided it with a GSM licence despite its eligibility to obtain one, and set the terms of the auction preventing it from participating in the bidding.
A court decision on the writ by the single bench of Justice Prakash Kumar Dhungana today has asked the government to clarify why CG has not been given a permit to operate GSM services, and why it was not allowed to take part in the bidding. But the decision came after the bidding process concluded.

NTA, Nepal Telecom seal deal to lay optical fibre in Karnali, Sudurpaschim provinces

Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) and Nepal Telecom (NT) today signed an agreement to lay 2,500-kilometre-long optical fibre in the Karnali Province and Sudurpaschim Province along the East-West Highway, Mid-Hill Highway and Postal Highway.
On the occasion, chairman of NTA Purushottam Khanal and managing director of NT Dilli Ram Adhikari signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) – on behalf of their respective institutions – to lay the optical fibre cables within two years. They will sign construction agreement within a month, after detailed study of the project.
Following the construction agreement, Nepal Telecom will be responsible for laying optical fibre cables in both the provinces in areas stretching from Musikot of Rukum to Jhulaghat of Baitadi district. It will lay minimum 96 core optical fibre cables along the aforementioned three highways and 48 core optical fibre cables along routes connecting the highway with the headquarters of 20 districts, a press note issued by the Nepal Telecom reads. “Likewise, it will lay 24 core optical fibre cables in routes connecting the highway with different municipalities in these districts.”
According to the government’s plans to make a communication super highway, we have accelerated the fibre laying works,” Khanal said, expressing hope that the entire project will be completed within the set deadline. “Laying the optical fibre along various highways and connecting areas is part of the government’s long-term target to expand broadband network across all district headquarters, municipalities, schools and health centres.”
The agreement for laying optical fibre cables will play a crucial role in achieving the goals set through the Broadband Policy 2015 and the National Information and Communication Policy, the press note reads, adding that the NTA had – in June 2016 – signed another agreement with Nepal Telecom to lay optical fibre cables along the East-West Highway and the project is nearing completion. “The NTA had scrapped its earlier agreement with Smart Telecom – on October 28 – citing snail-paced work and lack of significant progress in laying fibre cables in Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces.” Smart had been awarded the contract in September 2017, with the completion deadline of two years.
Nepal Telecom managing director Adhikari, on the occasion, expressed his commitment to complete the project on schedule. “Nepal Telecom will soon call a global tender and award the contract to lay the optical fibre in the two provinces.”

LTO recognises NT as highest taxpayer

The Large Taxpayers’ Office (LTO) today felicitated Nepal Telecom (NT) as the highest taxpayer – in terms of income tax from telecommunications sector – a couple of days after the government felicitated 15 firms as highest taxpayers of the fiscal year 2018-19.
Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has – marking the National Tax Day on Sunday – recognised some 15 top tax contributors as usual. But telecom companies – both Nepal Telecom and Ncell – could not make it to the top taxpayers’ list, unlike earlier years. The government generally recognises firms and individuals on the basis of income tax they pay, which is why both telecom firms could not make it to the list of top taxpayers of IRD for last year, though Ncell had earlier bagged the title of highest taxpayer institution for two consecutive fiscal years 2012-13 and 2013-14.
The LTO felicitated Nepal Telecom today as the largest taxpayer – based on income tax – among firms under its jurisdiction, though the telecom could not make it to the list of IRD’s top taxpayers.
There are some 13 tax offices in the Kathmandu valley under the jurisdiction of LTO. The Nepal Telecom was the highest taxpayer from the service sector.
Among the two telecom service providers, Ncell is regarded as one of the largest contributors of tax to the government but it also could not make it to the list of both IRD and LTO this time. According to a report published by Ncell’s parent company Axiata, Ncell paid $257 million in taxes – some 4.2 per cent of total tax revenue of the Nepali government in 2018 – last year. The domestic sources have also confirmed that Ncell had paid almost Rs 32 billion in taxes to the government last year. But Ncell could not make it to the list of top taxpayers, as the company did not meet the criteria for the recognition.
According to the criteria, a taxpayer should have paid necessary taxes regularly and on time, does not have pending dues and has submitted all the details sought by the government.

Nepal Telecom to start 4G service in 50 cities

Nepal Telecom (NT) is bringing 4G services into operation in 50 urban areas throughout the country from Wednesday.
The telecom service provider is announcing the expansion of the 4G service by organising a programme – in Kathmandu – which would be addressed by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, according to the Nepal Telecom spokesperson Pratibha Baidya. “The BTS towers have been installed at more than 110 places to roll out the 4G service,” she said, adding that the number of BTS towers will reach 150 by Wednesday.
The 4G service will be started in Chandragadhi, Birtamod, Damak, Biratnagar, Inaruwa, Dharan, Dhankuta, Janakpur, Jesleshwar, Malangawa, Bara, Parsa, Simara, Kalaiya and Gaur. Similarly, the service will also be expanded to Dhading, Kavrepalanchok, Sundhupalchok, Bidur, Manthali, Bhimeshwar, Sindhulimadhi, Parbat, Kushma, Baglung, Chitwan, Sauraha, Taulihawa, Butwal, Devdaha, Tulsipur, Ghorahi, Nepalgunj, Kohalpur, Surkhet, Bhimdattanagar, Jhalari, Pipaladi, Chaumala and Attariya.
The 4G service is reaching more than 50 places at the same time, according to the Minister for Communications and Information Technology Gokul Prasad Banskota’s directive.
“The goal is to expand the 4G LTE service throughout the country by February 12, 2020,” she added.

Nepal Telecom’s profit growth rate slows down

Increased licence fee, foreign exchange losses, and falling revenues caused by changing consumer tastes and preferences has pulled the Nepal Telecom (NT) net profit down by 42 per cent – compared to the last fiscal year – in the fiscal year 2018-19 that ended on July 16.
According to a consolidated interim financial report released by Nepal Telecom today, its net profit dropped to Rs 10.20 billion in the fiscal year 2018-19 from Rs 17.48 billion in fiscal year 2017-18, after it was obligated to pay Rs 4.02 billion for the second renewal of its licence, which had expired in 2014.
The state-owned utility still has to pay around Rs 16 billion in pending licence fees to the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA). And as the second renewal has also expired in May, there is uncertainty over fees for a third renewal too.
According to the telecom service provider, the company was obligated to pay Rs 20 billion, despite a dispute with the regulating authority over the payment of Global System of Mobile Communication (GSM) renewal fees, which had accrued on May 12, 2014.
Though, the government rescheduled – on May 24 – the payment, and allowed to settle in five annual installments from the fiscal year 2018-19 to save the state-owned, the employees' union of the NT has demanded that the fee be withdrawn.
According to a statement released by the union, the company which has a paid-up capital of Rs 15 billion – Rs 5 billion less than the fee amount sought by the regulator – should not be subjected to such a huge fee as it will lead to a massive financial burden.
The Nepal Telecom had received approval to sell GSM services in 1999. Since there was no fixed charges set for approval and renewal fees at the time. The telecom company had, however, agreed to pay the amount which would be paid by other service providers in the future.
In 2004, when Spice Nepal – now Ncell – began operations, it had agreed to pay Rs 210 million for approval to run GSM service and Rs 20 billion after 10 years for renewal, which has put pressure on Nepal Telecom to pay the same charge as default fees for renewal of the GSM licence.
Telecom operators are, now required to renew their licences every five years after 10 years of operation. “The issue of quantification of the GSM licence renewal fee that expired in May this year is not settled within the authority,” Nepal Telecom said, adding that the company renewed its licence by paying nearly Rs 190 million and has amortised the cost accordingly. “The fee liability of third renewal, if confirmed and quantified may result in further cost to the company and hence, the net profit after tax will be adjusted by that extent.”
Apart from renewal fee, the telecom also attributed the decline in its net profit to a fall in revenue as it recorded Rs 36.78 billion in total income in the last fiscal year, a drop of Rs 2.24 billion compared to revenues of Rs 39.02 billion in the fiscal year 2017-18. The fall in profit has hit the public listed company’s earning per share as it has dropped to Rs 68.05 per share from Rs 116.56 in a year, according to the unaudited financial statement of Nepal Telecom. “The company also suffered a foreign exchange loss of Rs 153.79 million in the fiscal year 2018-19 against a gain of Rs 635.55 million in foreign exchange in 2017-18.”
The marketing schemes also cost the company Rs 775.26 million in discount schemes on recharge card sales. 
The telecom has blamed growing use of over-the-top messaging services like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger over long distance and domestic voice calls for the decline in revenue, despite a growth in subscriptions. Earlier, long distance voice calls used to contribute a major chunk to the revenue, according to the telecom that has planned to expand the 4G network – to again gain the market – and also replace ADSL with fibre to the home (FTTH) connection.
The political bickering and red tape also forced the telecom service provider to loose its ground with the private players.

Nepal Telecom Authority to set up IT centres in 124 remote villages

The Nepal Telecommunications Authority is setting up IT service centres at 124 remote villages to provide integrated government services, in line with the government’s ambitious Digital Nepal Framework-2018 that envisions a ‘digital society’ with 90 per cent of the population having access to broadband services by 2020.
The Information Service Centre Formation and Management Work plan – prepared by the authority –plans to install four computers, printing machines and networking equipment and expand broadband facilities from those centres to wards, health centres and community schools.
The information centre project has been launched to combat digital exclusion in 124 rural municipalities, which has no access to telecommunications facilities as of date.
According to acting chairman of the Nepal Telecommunications Authority Purushottam Khanal, the regulator is starting a tender process for procurement of equipment within a month. The authority has estimated that it will take around Rs 90.52 million to procure equipment to establish those centres. “The authority plans to mobilise funds collected by levying telecom operators service charges amounting to 2 per cent of their gross income to execute the project,” he added. “Almost half of the shortlisted local levels are located in the western provinces of Karnali (26) and Sudurpashchim (28), in line with the by-laws which state that the authority must give special priority to rural communities without access to internet and with measurable presence of marginalised and economically backward denizens.

Bar Telecos with dues from adding services, facilities and increasing capital

Parliamentary Finance Committee directed the telecom regulator to bar telecos from adding services, facilities and increasing capital until they clear their dues.
The committee has asked the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) to recover Rs 2.96 billion dues from different telecommunication companies. After the committee's diktat, the regulator had issued a notice on February 11 giving telecommunication companies one-month deadline to clear their dues. The deadline has already expired on March 10.   But the telcos asked the regulator to extend the deadline till mid-July – instead of paying the dues – saying that they need more time to induct more shareholders and investors to pay their dues.
The outstanding dues include taxes and fees like income tax, value added tax, frequency fee, renewal fee and compulsory contribution to Rural Telecommunication Development Fund, according to NTA.
Smart Telecom owes the highest at Rs 1.4 billion, whereas United Telecom Limited (UTL) and Nepal Satellite Telecom Pvt Ltd owe the government Rs 794 million and Rs 735 million, respectively, according to the regulator, that has decided to extend the deadline till mid-July as requested by some telecom companies. Though some companies has not yet responded to NTA's ultimatum, mid-July is the final deadline extension for them to clear dues, claimed the regulator.
The UTL is increasing paid-up capital to clear the dues, while Smart Telecom is planning to clear dues after bringing new investors. Likewise, Nepal Satellite Telecom is planning to clear dues in installments, after the regulator's letter.
The parliamentary Finance Committee had earlier instructed the Finance Ministry and Communication Ministry to recover the dues from different telecom companies. The committee had also instructed the NTA to start the process of scrapping operating licenses of the telecos that failed to clear dues within the deadline.
Meanwhile, the committee concluded that there are serious flaws in tax assessment systems, after studying tax compliance by telecom companies. "While studying ownership transfer of Ncell, the committee had asked all ministries concerned to submit details of shares transfer of Ncell and Spice Nepal, all minutes of decisions, and the list of officials of Finance Ministry, Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), Inland Revenue Department (IRD), Large Taxpayers Office (LTO), who took decisions on assessment of CGT in Ncell buyout.
Chairperson of the Finance Committee Krishna Prasad Dahal said that government agencies cannot violate instructions given by the parliamentary committee. 

Migrants can now lodge complaints from abroad

Migrant workers can now lodge complaints from abroad as the government has established a call centre to listen to their problems.
"The centre will facilitate migrant workers, who need immediate help during the initial process when they are applying for foreign jobs," according to minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security Gokarna Bista. "The centre will be open every day for 13 hours from 7am."
"The centre under the Labour Ministry will be well equipped to deal with queries and complaints and provide suggestions to workers both in Nepal and in destination countries," he said, adding that the issues related to migrant workers will be addressed instantly. "The centre will coordinate and help resolves complaint lodged at the Department of Foreign Employment, Foreign Employment Promotion Board, Prime Minister Employment Programme or the Social Security Fund."
Migrant workers can file their complaints via telephone or internet-based communications including email, Messenger, Viber and Imo, he said, adding that the centre will also provide assistance to workers who have been jailed on fake charges. "The workers, who are employed in countries that the government has restricted for foreign employment, will also be able to file complaints at the call centre."
Nepal Telecom (NT) users will be able to connect and access the service of the centre for free and users of Ncell and other carriers will also soon be provided free services.

Government prepares to sack NT MD Rajbhandari and NTA chair Jha

The government has sought clarification from managing director of Nepal Telecom (NT), Kamini Rajbhandari, in a move to sack her.
Though the clarification has been sought doubting her managerial efficiency and blaming her for falling competitiveness of the telecom service provider in domestic sector, the government is planning to sack her, according to a high level source at the Ministry of Information and Communications.
The cabinet meeting today has decided to seek clarification from Rajbhandari, who is the first managing director in the history of Nepal Telecom to be selected from free competition. She still has almost 3 years to complete her tenure.
The source at the Ministry claimed that the efficiency of Nepal Telecom’s management has been deteriorating in recent times, compelling the government to seek clarification from the telecom service provider's top management.
Though the source also claimed that the Ministry will take necessary decisions only after analysing the clarification by Rajbhandari, clarification is sought to sack her.   
However, Rajbhandari said that she is yet to receive a letter from the government seeking her clarification.
The majority government led by Prime Minister K P Oli has also asked Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) – the regulatory authority of the telecom service providers – chair Digamber Jha not to take any decision in a clear indication that he could also be sacked.
But the frequent changes in the regulatory authority on the basis of political ideology will create anarchy in the market impacting the consumers due to weak regulator. 

Nepal ends India's Internet monopoly

The commercial operation of Nepal-China optical fiber link has begun from today, ending India's monopoly in cyber connectivity network.
The landlocked Nepal was totally dependent on India for access to the worldwide web through connections at Biratnagar, Bhairahawa and Birgunj, for which it pays a substantial sum as fees and royalties but Nepal Telecom (NT) and China Telecom Global today launched their services giving Nepal an option.
The information and communication minister Mohan Bahadur Basnet and Chinese ambassador Yu Hong inaugurated the new optical fibre link during a ceremony in Kathmandu.
The telecom companies had finished the laying of optical fibre cables between Kerung in China and Rasuwagadi in Nepal, about 50 km north of Kathmandu before the launching of the connectivity. A successful test of the link was conducted last week before it became operational on Friday.
"It will give Nepal an alternative to India for cyber connectivity and ensure uninterrupted connections," Pratibha Vaidya, Nepal Telecom spokesperson said, adding that Nepali consumers can now look forward to a reliable service. He noted that infrastructure had also been created to extend the Chinese railway network to Nepal.
Ambassador Yu, on the occasion, said China is the second largest investor in Nepal and also send many tourists to the country.
Nepal Telecom (NT), the government-owned telecom service provider, has now acquired bandwidth from China Telecom Global Limited, with its head office in Hong Kong. NT signed an agreement with the Chinese company in December 2016 to acquire bandwidth.
Nepal’s has a 25-GBPS link with India while the Chinese link is 1.5 GBPS. "The cost of internet services will remain the same," she said, adding that Nepal has been connected with China at only one point now, which will be increased in the future.
According to a report from Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA), more than 61 percent of Nepal population of more than 26 million is connected to the internet, mostly through mobile devices.

NT 4G service opened to Apple phone users

Nepal Telecom (NT) has made fourth generation (4G) or Long Term Evolution (LTE) service available to Apple phone users also from today after fixing technical issues.
"4G service is now available to Apple iPhone 6, 6 Plus, Seven and Seven Plus handset users,” the telecom service provider said in a statement.
Even after 4G service was opened to postpaid and prepaid subscribers, people using Apple phones could not switch to the upgraded network due to procedural delays between NT and Apple due to technical issues, according to the telecom service provider.
The US-based Apple said that it would make 4G network compatible with all Apple handsets from March in Nepal. "However, our persistent communication with Apple yielded results as the company made 4G service available by introducing a beta version,” the state-run telecom giant's press note reads. "Apple phone users need to download an application from Apple’s website beta.apple.com."
Due to lack of such version in iPhones available in Nepal, a number of iPhone users were deprived of 4G service. NT had then requested Apple to introduce the feature in its mobile phones in Nepal.
However, users have been advised to make a data backup before downloading the software. After that, they should go to the handset’s general settings, open software update and download the beta version, one of the largest operators in the country said.
NT customers can subscribe to 4G service by dialing *444#.
According to the company, more than 50,000 postpaid users in Kathmandu and Pokhara have switched to 4G network since the service was launched for them on January 1.
It expects the number of prepaid subscribers upgrading to 4G to rise faster as there are more of them than postpaid users. NT has opened 4G service in Kathmandu and Pokhara in the pilot phase.
The telecom service provider has upgraded 308 of its Base Transceiver Station (BTS) towers in the Kathmandu Valley and 25 stations in Pokhara to launch 4G service, it said, adding that the upgraded network allows consumers to use data at speeds of up to 32.4 Mbps. "The company aims to eventually raise the speed to 100 Mbps."
Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has authorised Nepal Telecom to offer 4G service with a bandwidth of 5 Mhz from the 1800 Mhz frequency band. The NT has asked the regulator for another 5 Mhz bandwidth to increase the speed to 100 Mbps. Once the pilot phase is completed, the company aims to launch the service in 15 municipalities in the first phase, according to the regulator of telecommunications sector.
According to the Management Information System (MIS) report of the authority, the NT has 13,536,114 GSM subscribers, apart from 7,504,457 internet service users using GPRS, EDGE and WCDMA technologies. "There are 13.74 million internet service subscribers using these technologies across the country."

Nepal Telecom rolls out 4G service

Nepal Telecom (NT) has rolled out fourth generation (4G) mobile network services for the first time in country today.
Minister for Information and Communications Surendra Kumar Karki inaugurated the service at a special function in Kathmandu.
Inaugurating the service, Minister Karki said that Nepal has not been able to connect information and communications technology (ICT) to the country’s development process though linkage between them is a must to achieve development goals. "The 4G service does not only aim to facilitate NT’s subscribers but also for the development of other sectors and the country’s overall development process,” Karki said.
Similarly, managing director of NT Kamini Rajbhandari, on the occasion, said that NT is committed to bring the latest internet technology in Nepal. “Launching 4G service is a part of enhancing Nepal Telecom’s consumer satisfaction," she said, adding that the launch of 4G will not only strengthen the position of NT in the market but will also help increase revenue for the government.
According to the telecom service provider, 4G services are available in most parts of Kathmandu and Pokhara, although it will initially be available only for post-paid phone service subscribers. "The service will benefit almost 350,000 NT post-paid subscribers in Kathmandu Valley and Pokhara," it added. "Post-paid users can activate the service by dialing *444#,” the NT said, adding that pre-paid service subscribers have to wait until February 4.
In a bid to facilitate its customers with smooth 4G service, NT has enabled the service at its 308 base transceiver stations (BTS) GSM towers in Kathmandu Valley and 25 BTS GSM towers in Pokhara. However, the 4G service in Pokhara will be available for GSM post-paid users based in New Road and Lakeside only.
NT has said that subscribers can enjoy 4G service at the same rate of one rupee per Mb data being applied for 3G.
To subscribe to 4G service, a customer’s mobile device should first be 4G compatible (Band-3 1800Mhz). Similarly, in case the post-paid SIM is of an older version, the SIM needs to be replaced with newer 4G-enabled SIM (Universal or U-SIM), the NT said, adding that some versions of iPhone will not support 4G for the time being.
Compared to 3G services currently in use, 4G services will have double the speed for internet services, the service provider said adding, “Under a 4GB Promotional Package, Nepal Telecom has offered 1GB data free for four days.”
4G is the fourth generation of wireless mobile telecommunications technology, succeeding the 3G currently in use in Nepal.
The 4G is the latest wireless internet service succeeding 3G and allows higher internet speed as compared to 3G. NT has claimed that users can enjoy 32.4 Mbps per second download speed using 4G.
The first-release of the Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard – a 4G candidate system – is commercially deployed in Oslo, Norway, and Stockholm, Sweden since 2009.
3G technology created the first networks fast enough to make smartphones practical.
Before that, they were too slow to allow subscribers to do all the things that make smartphones ‘smart’ like streaming videos, quickly surfing the web and downloading music. But 4G really allows technologies in smartphones to spread their wings. That is because they a lot faster than 3G. So when a subscriber wants to download an app or stream a TV show in HD, it can be done without buffering and lag.

Nepal Telecom posts Rs 5.55 billion net profit in the first half of fiscal year

Nepal Telecom posted a net profit Rs 5.55 billion in the first half of the current fiscal year 2013-14.

The profit is 0.66 per cent more compared to the same period a fiscal year ago.

The Nepse-listed company’s financial statement for the second quarter of the current fiscal year published today revealed that its total income stood at Rs 19.69 billion compared to the last fiscal year's second quarter, when it recorded an income of Rs 18.43 billion.

According to the telecom service provider, it has managed to record a growth despite cut-throat competition and increasing operating cost due to power outage.

The company has posted increment of 6.86 per cent in income to Rs 19.69 billion, whereas expenditure also increased to Rs 12.2 billion – due to payment for new projects like WiMax and additional 10 million GSM lines– of from Rs 10.81 billion last year.

The only profit making company under the others sub group in the Nepse has also reported that its expenses also increased in paying frequency fee, contribution to the Rural Telecommunication Development Fund, operation and maintenance, royalty and administrative cost, though the expenses for licence fee and interest on subscribers’ deposit decreased.

Nepal Telecom is planning to pay Rs 462 million for frequency fee in the current fiscal year, whereas its operation and maintenance cost increased to Rs 3.75 billion from last year’s 3.1 billion.

Nepal Telecom to introduce new social network site

Nepal Telecom plans to introduce a new social network site in March, The telecom service provider has been testing the site internally at present.

Managing director of the company Anoop Ranjan Bhattarai, today said that the social site will have the same facilities as Facebook, plus Skype, group message and Viber facilities. "Nepal Telecom has not yet named the site."

The new social network aims to initially benefit one million users, moving to 10 million people at a later date. Nepse-listed Nepal Telecom has invested Rs 900 million so far to construct the social network site.

Likewise, he urged the the regulatory bodies to simplify public procurement process to help company upgrade technologically, and remain competent in the market.

Though Nepal Telecom is competitive, it is finding difficult to upgrade technologically due to procurement act, he added, on the occasion of 10th anniversary.

The company that had earned Rs 11.2 billion net profit in the last fiscal year, is providing telecommunication service to almost one million customers through its GSM, CDMA, landlines, Wimax and ADSL internet services.

The company had also contributed Rs 7.6 billion to the government coffer as tax in the last fiscal year.

The company’s priority is to increase the country’s digital inclusion by expanding our digital presence all over the nation,” he added.

However, chief secretary Leela Mani Poudyal on the occasion, said that there is no legal barriers to the Nepal Telecom to expand its market. Emphasising on the need to focus on improving its service quality, he said that company can only survive in the long run if it can provide the customers with better and quality services

Special offers flood
KATHMANDU: Nepal Telecom's postpaid GSM and CDMA customers will get free 50MB data per month for the next three months. The company has announced discounts for its customers on the occasion of its 10th anniversary.

Internet base increases to 7.2 million

The internet user base grew to 7.20 million in mid-September, up from 7.14 million in mid-August.

The internet penetration rate stood at 27.18 per cent, up from 26.93 per cent a month earlier, figures from the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) show.

Ncell saw its mobile internet base – GPRS, Edge,WCDMA – slip to 3.53 million from 3.55 million a month earlier while UTL's EV-DO base grew to 98,151 from 97,104 in August.

Nepal Telecom's dial-up base go down to 4,794 from 4,804 but its ADSL base grew to 116,990 from 115,927 a month earlier.

The company also served 3.22 million mobile internet subscribers, up from 3.14 million, and 136,573 EV-DO subscribers, the same as the company reported in the previous month. Nepal Telecom also had 3,689 customers for its new Wimax service, up from 3,177 in August. Other ISPs served 89,219 internet customers, up from 88,568 a month earlier, the regulator added.

Likewise, the country has 847,008 fixed telephony users in mid-September, down from 847,062 in mid-August. The total includes 648,181 PSTN subscribers and 198,827 WLL telephony users.

Nepal Telecom led with 642,353 PSTN customers, down from 642,754 a month earlier, while STM Telecom Sanchar's base remained constant at 5,230 customers, it revealed. "Smart had 598 PSTN public phone centres."
However, the telephone penetration rate reached to 82.49 per cent as of mid September as some 21.85 million Nepalis have access to telecom services out of the total population of 26.4 million.

Nepal Telecom, Siddhartha Rana largest tax payers

Nepal Telecom and Siddharth Rana have become the largest taxpayers under institution and individual category for the fiscal year 2011-12.

Finance minister Shankar Prasad Koirala today honoured various individuals and institutions including the largest taxpayers – in different tax categories like income tax, VAT and excise duty – for their contribution to the government coffer on the occasion of second National Tax Day organised by the Inland Revenue Department.

The partially divested and Nepse-listed telecom service provider Nepal Telecom has contributed some Rs 9 billion to the government coffer in the fiscal year 2011-12.

Likewise, executive chairman of Sipradi Trading Rana has been honoured as the highest income tax payer under the individual category.
Speaking on the occasion, finance minister Shankar Prasad Koirala said that the government is working hard on widening the tax net by policy, procedural and legal reform in the revenue administration. "There is a need for change in bureaucratic mindset as the general people and entrepreneurs have negative image of tax," he said, asking the revenue officials to change according to time. "Budget for the current fiscal year has envisages people-friendly tax policy, apart from online tax payment system to make revenue administration more efficient, and also for sustainable source of tax."

Our revenue is based on imports, said central bank governor Dr Yub Raj Khatiwada. "The government should work hard on increasing non-tax revenue's share in the total revenue," he said, adding that the more the contribution of non-tax revenue in total revenue, the better the economy.

However, finance secretary Shanta Raj Subedi said that only one million population is under tax net, which has to be increased to at least five per cent as in the country of 26.5 million population hardly 3.88 per cent are within the tax bracket.

Though it has been almost six decades that the government has started mobilising tax, very less per cent of people – including professionals – are registered in the tax, let alone pay tax.

According to the Finance Ministry, the government has been able to mobilise Rs 2.67 billion income tax – which is lesser than the same period of last fiscal year, when the government had been able to mobilise Rs 2.83 billion – in the first two months of the current fiscal year.

Likewise, he also stressed on bringing the huge amount of money that is being spent in the CA election campaign.