Pledges push for digital governance, tech hub plan

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, May 21: Minister for Information and Communication Dr. Bikram Timilsina has said the government is prioritising media reform, digital governance and nationwide expansion of telecommunication services, particularly in remote areas, while responding to concerns raised in Parliament.

Addressing the House of Representatives meeting on Tuesday to deliver answers to the questions raised by the lawmakers, the Minister said the government was committed to strengthening the Press Council Nepal to improve media content monitoring and institutional effectiveness. 

He said that efforts were under way to develop country’s media sector into a clean, independent, accountable and credible industry.

Highlighting digital inclusion, the Minister described proposals to establish Digital Work Hubs and Community IT Centres in remote areas as ‘important and timely.’ He said the government had placed high priority on expanding quality telephone and internet access across the country, particularly in remote regions and commercial centres.

According to Minister Timilsina, a remote work information system has already been developed and is in the process of implementation following policy approval. He also informed that government operations were increasingly being integrated through the Government Integrated Office Management System (GIOMS).

Minister Timilsina said the government websites were being upgraded in accordance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to ensure easier access for persons with disabilities, adding that improvements would continue.

He also explained that official government information was now being disseminated through social media platforms, digital systems and mobile applications in line with citizens’ right to information. Additional services have also been integrated into the Nagarik App to improve public access to government services. 

The government is also preparing to introduce more flexible and transparent regulation in the telecommunications and internet sector by reviewing tax rates and removing barriers for new entrants in order to expand internet coverage nationwide.

Speaking on the government’s broader digital ambitions, the Minister said Nepal aimed to establish itself as a regional technology hub by declaring the information technology sector a national strategic industry.

Bills in progress

Minister Timilsina informed the Parliament that the Information Technology Bill, Cyber Security Bill and Artificial Intelligence Bill were currently in the drafting stage.

Under the government’s policy framework, Nepal plans to promote software exports, digital services, cloud services, cyber security, green computing and AI computation. Digital parks, high-capacity data centres and public digital infrastructure are also planned as part of the strategy.

The Minister further said financial incentives, investment facilitation, government co-investment and tax benefits for research and innovation would be provided to support the information technology export industry. He also informed that to reduce server down time in government offices, the government plans to strengthen the Integrated Data Management Centre and Data Recovery Centre in Hetauda while bringing a new data centre in Kohalpur into operation.

Telecom services improvement  

Addressing telecommunications concerns, Minister Timilsina said the government’s priority over the next year was to ensure reliable, high-quality and accessible telecommunication services from remote villages to urban areas.

In remote districts such as Dolpa, services are currently being provided through 26 Nepal Telecom towers and private sector infrastructure. Broadband and internet services have already been expanded to most wards in Kaike, Jagdulla, Tripurasundari, Thulibheri, Mudkechula, Shey Phoksundo, Dolpo Buddha and Chharka Tangsong Rural Municipalities through the Rural Telecommunications Development Fund.

However, the Minister acknowledged that complete ‘carpet coverage’ had not yet been achieved. He said the government planned to expand 4G coverage, establish new telecommunications sites and strengthen infrastructure within the next year to improve connectivity in remote settlements.

The government is also moving ahead with short-term measures to improve network quality by increasing the capacity of existing 4G services, upgrading power systems and adding additional capacity in congested areas.

He said that to improve coverage in rural regions, the government plans to expand 4G services using the 900 MHz frequency band, which allows broader geographic coverage with less infrastructure.

Minister Timilsina said weak mobile and internet connectivity in areas such as Lalbandi, Ramechhap and Lalitpur was also being addressed in coordination with service providers. Nepal Telecom has been allocated an additional 5 MHz frequency in the 800 MHz band to improve service quality and network capacity.

The Minister said additional 2G and 4G sites would be added within the next three to six months, while a new telecommunications project covering 13 districts in the eastern Tarai would be launched within a year.

He added that the government ultimately aimed to expand 4G services nationwide and gradually move towards nationwide 5G implementation under its long-term Digital Nepal vision.