Smart Telecom saves itself from License cancellation

By NepaliTelecom Last updated Aug 21, 2019

Smart Telecom Pvt. Ltd has saved itself from the license cancellation by paying some amount as directed by NTA. Earlier NTA directed the telco to pay 30 crores ( Rs 300 million) within 15 days to save its license. As per NTA, Smart Telecom needs to pay around Rs 2 billion and 590 million to NTA in the name of several fees.

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NTA, the regulator had also asked the telco to pay the remaining amount within 3 months. NTA had warned all the telcos to clear the dues on multiple occasions. As known, this time they have given the final warning to all those who have pending dues. The due fees are for frequency fees, license renewal fee, Royalty fee, and RTDF fees. They also recently gave fresh directives after which they will scrap the license those are unable to clear the dues in time.

Smart Telecom is the third largest telecom operator in the country. Find here the information about the coverage of Smart Telecom.

The directives of NTA came after the decision of the NTA board to give a final chance. In reply to the directives, Smart Telecom had assured to pay all the dues as per NTA’s request. Before parliament’s Finance committee had directed NTA, MoCIT to recover the dues or else cancel the license of those who could not pay in time.

NTA also plans to give those scraped licenses to foreign companies as a new telco operator. They want to make the market more competitive and also discourage the tendency to hold the licenses.

There are many telecom operators and ISPs which have pending dues to pay to NTA. Some of them are not being able to provide any service at all to people. NTA has pending dues to recover of the amount Rs 4 billion and 320 million, from 9 such telcos and ISPs.

Regarding other telcos, Kantipur reports Nepal Satellite (Hello mobile) needs to pay around 800 million to NTA for several fees. Out of which, NTA asked to pay Rs 70 million within 15 days whose deadline is till Bhadra 1. Similarly, another telco UTL has pending dues of Rs 870 million. Although NTA had given the directives to UTL, they have got a Supreme Court’s stay order for not to implement NTA’s plan. So, NTA has to wait to do such actions in UTL case until the final verdict.