KATHMANDU, 10 NOV 2014Â – Stating the towers installed by telecom operators and internet service providers (ISPs) on rooftops posed health risks, the Parliamentary Development Committee on Sunday directed the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) to take necessary action to manage the towers.
The committee also directed the telecom sector regulator to take initiatives to make the inter-connectivity service cheaper and easier.
The committee asked the Ministry of Information and Communication to complete the optical fiber laying job by this year in areas where the work has not started yet. For the purpose, the ministry has been directed to coordinate with the NTA and service providers.
The Parliamentary committee also directed the ministry to expand telecom services through proper utilisation of the Rural Telecommunications Development Fund (RTDF).
The government raised Rs 1.73 billion in RTDF from telecom companies and ISPs in 2013-14. The size of the fund has reached around Rs 10 billion, but there are complaints the fund has not been properly utilised. The House panel has directed the ministry to expand the basic telecom service in all areas of the country using the RTDF. “Make village development committees, hospitals, schools and local markets as focal points for the expansion of telecom services,†the directive states.
The ministry has been asked to furnish details about services being offered by telecom companies and their reach in the next 15 days. It has also been told to coordinate with the Science Ministry on the use of technology.
Source: eKantipur
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