Communications Minister presses for ensuring right to telecommunication services  

Kathmandu, Jan 17: Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Gyanendra Bahadur Karki has stressed ensuring the rights of the rural people to get accessible telecommunication services.    

Minister Karki said so while speaking in a programme after inspecting the Nepal Telecom Authority Office at Jamal here today. He called for the implementation of the plans and programmes in an expeditious and effective manner so that no citizen is devoid of his/her right to avail of a basic service as telecommunication in this age of information and technology.    

Also the government spokesperson, Minister Karki directed the Nepal Telecom Authority to execute this year's plans and programmes without any delay in the present COVID-19 situation.    

"Let there be no delay in the pretext of the coronavirus infection. The programmes have to be made result-oriented and the government is ready to provide policy support to the Authority in this connection," the Minister for Communication and Information Technology said.    

He reminded that the concept of development can be fulfilled only if everyone realized their rights and responsibilities.    

Secretary at the Ministry Dr Baikuntha Aryal suggested increasing coordination between the regulatory body and the service-providing companies for the development, expansion and credibility of the telecom sector.    

Stating that the draft of a new Telecommunications Act has reached the final stage of completion, he said initiatives are also on to bring a new Information Technology Policy by integrating the Telecommunication Policy, the Broadband Policy and the Communication and Information Technology Policy.    

On the occasion, Authority Chair Purushottam Khanal informed about the various programmes carried out by the Authority. He also shed light on the policy level reforms required for making telecommunication services reliable, affordable and easily accessible.    

The Nepal Telecommunication Authority was established on March 4, 1998, as an autonomous incorporated independent regulatory body with the objective of regularizing and managing the telecommunication services in the country.