Communications Minister calls for ensuring quality internet services in Singha Durbar

Kathmandu, April 13: The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has initiated efforts to make 'Internet' services more convenient, faster, and hassle-free in Singha Durbar, the main administrative centre of the federal government, and its premises.

The ministry has also directed the Integrated Data Management Centre, which serves as the internet infrastructure authority in the Singha Durbar area for this purpose.

Minister of Communications and Information Technology Dr Bikram Timilsina has, during discussions on this matter, instructed the head of the Data Management Centre, Manish Bhattarai, to strengthen and make the information technology infrastructure more effective in Singha Durbar and nearby government entities.

During the discussion at the ministry today, Communications Minister Dr Timilsina emphasised the need to ensure quality internet services across all agencies within Singha Durbar.

He made it clear that internet services should not be disrupted under any circumstances and instructed service providers and relevant authorities to adopt high vigilance. The Minister particularly emphasised that potential causes of service disruption should be identified and addressed in a timely manner.

Minister Dr Timilsina urged all relevant agencies to work responsibly and accountably, emphasising that cooperation, coordination and regular monitoring need to be made more effective.

Stating that effective administration is not possible without improving the quality of digital services, he stated that technology-based service delivery has been made a government priority.

Similarly, Minister Timilsina instructed the Centre to focus on the management of skilled personnel as problems can also arise due to technical and human errors. He directed it to deploy a team, including skilled technicians, from Nepal Telecom to promptly resolve potential issues.

In that context, Bhattarai, the Head of the Integrated Data Management Centre, had provided information about the current state of internet services within Singha Durbar.

According to him, some offices are currently experiencing slow internet and occasional connectivity interruptions. He also informed that necessary technical improvements and management measures have been implemented to prevent such problems from recurring.

He said currently, a one Gbps capacity broadband service is operational within Singha Durbar through Nepal Telecom, while an additional 250 Mbps capacity broadband is being used for operating 'G-Cloud'.

Bhattarai stated that problems observed with internet service usually occur due to disruptions in optical fibre. He mentioned that issues particularly arise when fibre is cut or damaged during road and other infrastructure construction.

He pointed out the need to systematically lay optical fibre underground for long-term solutions to such problems.

According to him, previously when internet service was blocked in one location in the Singha Durbar area, arrangements were made to maintain service continuity through an alternative system. The Head of the Centre, Bhattarai, said the system has recently weakened somewhat and informed that efforts are being made to strengthen it again.

Similarly, although the management of the external internet connection in the Singha Durbar compound falls under the Management Centre, the responsibility for the internal server and network management within the offices rests with the respective agencies, so he pointed out the need to deploy skilled personnel related to information technology in each ministry and agency.

This initiative to improve internet service in the Singha Durbar area is considered an important step in the context of the government aiming to strengthen 'digital' infrastructure to make service delivery faster, transparent and effective. (RSS)