Nepal Telecom (NTC) has decided not to increase the internet price for all of its internet services. Although the Government had applied the additional 13% TSC, they prefer to keep the price as it is.
Nepal Telecom (NTC) says they have been providing affordable wireless and wired Telecom and Internet services. Considering the convenience for its customers, Nepal Telecom opted not to put an additional burden on the customers and kept the same price.
TSC and the internet price
The government had started charging the 13% TSC (Telecom service charge) for all the internet services from FY 2075/76. That time also, the internet price went up but after some negotiations and agreement, the price hike was revoked. For the private ISPs, ISPAN (Internet Service Provider Association of Nepal) decides and negotiates with the Government, MoCIT in their favor.
For this year, as the private ISPs found no progress in the previous agreement and they apply the same 13% TSC, they decided to increase the internet price.
NTC has recently launched Summer offer to provide affordable telecom and internet services. The data packages, CUG packs and postpaid offers have gave more choices to the customers. So that they can select the best affordable ones among them.
Being a Government-owned operator, Ntc abides by Government’s policy to provide affordable services. They also provide such affordable telecom services to all parts of the country including city to the remote areas. Obliged to the People, Ntc’s decision is highly appreciable.
Appreciating the efforts of Ntc, we should not be indifferent to the demands of the private ISPs. We only see them concerned about their profit, sustainability and the quality of service, due to the extra charge. So, they decide only to collect the 13 percent charge from customers and give it to the Government.
The impact of the access to the internet due to affordability is multifold. So, we need to find out the win-win situation which seems too far now. For this reason, we now give several rounds of applause to Nepal Telecom for not increasing the internet price.
