IT, digital infrastructure govt priorities: Minister Timilsina

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, May 23: Minister for Information and Communication Dr. Bikram Timilsina has said that expanding 4G services, strengthening digital infrastructure, improving cyber security and upgrading data centres are among the government’s top priorities.

Addressing a meeting of the Education, Health and Information Technology Committee under the House of Representatives on Friday, Minister Timilsina said the government was working with short-, medium- and long-term plans to bridge the digital divide, particularly in remote and rural areas.

He said the government had prepared a one-year action plan to expand 4G services through new site installations and infrastructure development so that even remote settlements would gain internet and telephone access.

According to the Minister, 4G LTE services have reached 750 local levels, while 2G services are now available in all 753 local levels. 

The government is currently focused on improving service quality by expanding network capacity, upgrading power systems and adding capacity in high-traffic areas to increase internet speed and reduce service disruptions.

Minister Timilsina said the government would first ensure effective nationwide expansion of 4G before gradually moving towards 5G services.

He also added that funds from the Rural Telecommunications Development Fund, which had long remained underutilised, would now be spent on expanding internet access to unconnected settlements within a year.

The government is implementing the ‘Broadband Access Network Project’ to develop internet infrastructure at local offices, community schools and health centres outside the Kathmandu Valley.

The Minister said the government was also prioritising financial incentives and investment facilitation for the IT export industry, as well as greater investment in research and innovation. He added that regulations to bring Over the Top (OTT) services under a legal framework were currently being drafted.

Minister Timilsina further said the government had adopted a zero-tolerance policy against financial irregularities and abuse of authority in the telecommunications sector.

He said that reforms had begun to modernise postal services through smart post offices, expanded courier and parcel services, and development of a digital postal system.

Programmes related to the expansion of services by Nepal Telecom, optical fiber expansion, public Wi-Fi, frequency management and 5G infrastructure development are also being advanced, he added.

Referring to past financial irregularities and misappropriation in the telecommunications sector, Minister Timilsina said the government was studying the issue and had adopted a zero-tolerance policy against financial misconduct and abuse of authority.

He stated that longstanding problems in the telecommunications sector had already been identified and that continuous efforts were underway to address them.

Similarly, the Minister said the proposed Media Council Bill was aimed at addressing existing problems in the journalism sector. 

He informed the committee that training, fellowship and capacity-building programmes to promote responsible journalism would be launched from the next fiscal year.