NTA urges NEA to resolve issue regarding rent hike of utility poles through dialogue

Kathmandu / Oct 3: Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) has expressed its dissatisfaction over Nepal Electricity Authority’s (NEA) decision to remove optical fibre connections from utility poles in various places which resulted in disruption of internet services. According to an announcement released by the NTA on Saturday, internet services were disrupted in various provinces because of the NEA’s move.

The NEA removed a number of internet and cable TV wires from its poles in places such as Biratnagar, Janakpur, Pokhara, Butwal, Surkhet and Dhangadhi, among others.

“As every problem can be resolved through dialogue, we request the Nepal Electricity Authority, the Internet Service Providers Association of Nepal and all the parties concerned to resolve the issue through mutual discussion and make arrangements for the smooth use of the Internet service,” the announcement reads.

Similarly, the NTA has warned NEA of legal actions against them. “Internet services were blocked due to the removal of optical fibers by the NTA, even when the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and the NTA were trying to resolve the issue through dialogues related to the hike in rent of utility poles between the Internet Service Providers Association of Nepal and the NEA.” “According to the Nepal Telecommunications Act 1997, anyone obstructing such services will be punished by law,” the announcement reads.

Earlier, the NEA decided to increase the rent for the use of utility poles by the ISPs. Following the action, the ISPs knocked on the doors of the NTA to increase the prices of internet services by Rs 150 in rural areas and by Rs 300 in urban areas per subscriber.