Internet Services Interrupted on Thursday Have Resumed; Permanent or Temporary Solution Uncertain
Following a widespread disruption on Thursday across Nepal, internet services have been successfully restored, bringing relief to affected users.
Internet Service Providers (ISPs), including Worldlink, Subisu, Vianet have issued notices that internet service has been restored. However, there is uncertainty that whether this solution is permanent or temporary.
Internet services across Nepal was extremely slow on Thursday because Indian telecommunication company, Airtel, reportedly restricted bandwidth due outstanding dues by the Nepalese ISPs.
Airtel has been a major provider of internet bandwidth to Nepal, accounting for about 80% of the country’s total bandwidth supply.
Keshav Nepal, CEO of World Link Nepal, informed that the service has been restored after sending a letter requesting not to block the internet service. He also said that a warning letter was sent saying one cannot just shut down the internet like this.
However, it is believed that the internet started to work after the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology
issued a statement and requested the service providers to pay the fees and royalties as per the rules and not to block essential services like internet. The ministry recalled the legal system and the internet started working after a few hours of making the request.
Internet Service Providers (ISPs), including Worldlink, Subisu, and Vianet, have issued notices stating that internet service has been restored. However, there is uncertainty as to whether this solution is permanent or temporary.
Internet services across Nepal were extremely slow on Thursday because the Indian telecommunication company, Airtel, reportedly restricted bandwidth due to outstanding dues owed by the Nepalese ISPs.
Airtel has been a major provider of internet bandwidth to Nepal, accounting for about 80% of the country’s total bandwidth supply.
Keshav Nepal, CEO of World Link Nepal, informed that the service has been restored after sending a letter requesting not to block the internet service. He also said that a warning letter was sent, stating that one cannot just shut down the internet like this.
However, it is believed that the internet started to work after the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology issued a statement and requested the service providers to pay the fees and royalties as per the rules, and not to block essential services like internet. The ministry invoked the legal system, and the internet started working after a few hours of making the request.
Major bandwidth providers in Nepal import bandwidth from Airtel, Tata, Reliance and other companies and provide internet services in Nepal. According to reports, some internet service provider companies in Nepal have not paid the amount of service fee and royalty to the government.
The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology is demanding payment for outstanding dues categorized under maintenance expenses. However, internet service providers contend that maintenance falls outside the scope of telecommunication services. They have been remitting only royalties and RTDF (Rural Telecommunication Development Fund) dues from their earnings, excluding maintenance fees levied by the Telecom Authority.
International bandwidth providers have reportedly not received payment due to a dispute between the government of Nepal and Nepalese internet service providers. It is reported that Nepal’s internet service providers have not paid for the bandwidth taken from India’s Airtel for a year. As a result, Airtel has expressed concerns, stating that they are awaiting payment and cautioning that internet services may be interrupted at any time.
