NTA speeds up optical fiber network expansion drive

Kathmandu, June 10 (RSS): The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has expedited its attempt to lay an optical fiber network to avail the people of broadband internet service.   

 
The NTA said the broadband internet service has started in the estimated locations in 74 districts through the mobilization of the Rural Telecommunications Development Fund. Of the completed projects, monitoring and verification of eight is done so far while the remaining others are going through the second and third phases of monitoring and verification.    

Likewise, mobilization of the same Fund is ongoing to install the optical fiber to link the district headquarters and the Mid-Hill Highway. In the first phase, a total of 1,314 kilometers of optical fiber has been installed in Province 1, Madhes Province, and Bagmati Province while the work is in progress in Karnali Province and Sudurpaschim Province.    

NTA Spokesperson Santosh Poudel said the broadband internet would be provided through the mobilization of the Fund in all local levels including their ward offices, community schools, and community health care institutions in the worst affected eight districts from the Gorkha Earthquake.

In those districts, the NTA would also provide internet tariffs for up to two years to those districts after the installation of broad board internet service. So far, agreement papers have been signed with 72 local levels out of 76.