Info Ministry claims 100 percent achievement of target during last three months

Kathmandu, Jan 31: The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has asserted 100 percent achievement of its targets in the last three months.

Secretary at the Ministry, Radhika Aryal, shared this information by organizing a press conference in the Ministry on Friday.     

The Ministry accomplished all works assigned by the government in the last 100 days. According to the Secretary, the 'Network Coverage Gap Assessment Report' on the telecommunications service was prepared; the standards of the data centre were readied; and 753 post offices came into operation at the local level. It was informed in the news conference that there are 676 post offices, six postal directorates, one central post office, 70 district post offices and 80 postal counters.     

The Ministry also organized training in 10 agencies for operating the Integrated Office Management System so that concept of paperless government would be implemented. During this period, as many as 93 systems had got security audits.     

Secretary Aryal further informed that last 100 days witnessed expansion of fixed broadband service with 0.36 percent increase, thereby benefitting 151,025 more people.     

A total of 1.7 people were benefited with the expansion of access to 4G (LTE) service in the second 100 days of the government. Moreover, 1,000 old audio tapes of Radio Nepal were digitalized during the last 100 days. One more percent of Radio Nepal's coverage was ensured, thereby reaching total coverage- 94 percent.     

The Secretary also shared other achievements like introduction of Bambule language in the Gorkhapatra daily, totaling 45 languages in the Gorkhapatra publication.     

The FTTH service has covered all 77 districts in the country. 4G/LTE service is expanded by 5.99 percent, ensuring 85.98 percent people's access to the service.     

The number of government services linked to the Nagarik App has reached 64.     

The Ministry also claimed that Nepal stand at the notch of 69.76 in Cyber Security Index.     

The government lifted the ban on TikTok by setting conditions. The Directive to Regulate the Use of Social Media was issued. The TikTok has been listed/registered as per the Directive, and efforts are on to register other social media platforms including Meta. The restructuring of the Postal Service Department was over.     

Also listed in the achievement were launch of Public Service Broadcasting Act, 2081, thereby merging the State-run media, Radio Nepal and Nepal Television.     

The Telecommunications Regulation was amended and internet service providers (ISP) getting renewed. Importantly, the government collected Rs 1.38 billion royalty from the World Links, while Rs 170 million from Subishu Cable Net, Rs 260 million from the Via Net Communications. The NCell's permit was extended for five more years.     

Moreover, the Ministry registered the Bill Designed to Operate, Use and Regulate Social Networks in the parliament secretariat.     

With the establishment of the National Cyber Security Centre, the government has built a mechanism to prevent possible cyber attacks on IT systems of government offices.     

The Artificial Intelligence Policy was given a final shape and getting endorsed soon. Similarly, efforts were on to replace the old laws relating to the Gorkhapatra Corporation, Rastriya Samachar Samiti, and Postal Services, the Secretary shared in the news conference.(RSS)