Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) will be studying the possibility of manufacturing mobile phones in Nepal. Similarly, they will also study the scope of refurbishment here in Nepal. All to aid the government’s initiative for the “Make in Nepal” concept.
NTA has revealed that they have already started the necessary processes. For this purpose, NTA has formed a task force, says the spokesperson of NTA, Mr. Minprasad Aryal.
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The role of the task force
The task force is a team of experts who will conduct a study on manufacturing phone sets and repairing them in Nepal. The newly formed task force consists of each representative from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the Mobile Importers Association, the Authority, and an independent expert.
1. Assembling new phones
While the import and use of mobile phones increases in the country, the Nepal government has decided to study the possibility of assembling new phones.
The team will study the current work and international trends in the potential industry of assembling and refurbishing mobiles in Nepal. The new task force will also address the issues related to tax and technology to meet the criteria.
Earlier, Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) had appointed a consultant in 2076 BS to study the feasibility of manufacturing mobile phones under the Nepal Government’s “Make in Nepal” scheme. Currently, around 25 to 30 billion mobile phones import to Nepal annually. So, NTA expects to reduce the number by at least 10 percent by assembling or refurbishing phones within the country.
2. Refurbishment of old phones
Refurbishment is the process of re-certifying an old smartphone by various companies and selling it in the market as new.
There is a provision of importing mobile phones only by registering International Mobile Station Equipment Identity (IMEI). Such phones are sold second-hand after they become obsolete. The task force will also conduct a study on how such second-hand phones can be repaired and sold as new.
The NTA has planned to sell the old phones as refurbished phones after repairing them as per international standards. New criteria will be set up to assemble new phones and repair old phones, and make them available for sale in the market.
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At last
The task force created by NTA will study the possibilities of manufacturing and repairing mobile sets within Nepal. They aim to reduce the import quantity and reuse the old phones as new ones.
According to Aryal, a report will be prepared based on the study within the next 30 days. The study report will outline the status of refurbished phones in Nepal, its criteria, and the sales distribution process.
This provision will help massively in the economic growth of our country.
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