Nepal Telecom (NTC) has given a one-month ultimatum to internet service providers (ISPs) and cable TV service providers in Koshi Province to pay rent for poles or it will cut their internet cables. The state-backed company issued the stern warning on Tuesday, Jestha 20, 2082, via a notice.
The company has now given ISPs and cable TV service providers to pay their pole rental for FY 2081/82 by Ashar 15. If they fail to do so, the company said that it will start cutting off their cables at any time. Previously, on Jestha 08, 2081, the company had issued a similar warning. It had been said that the companies must take full responsibility for any consequences that may transpire. The company’s Provincial Directorate in Biratnagar had issued the notice to the ISPs and cable TV providers in Koshi Province.
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Nepal Telecom warning about cutting ISP cables reminds the recent history of the same
The warning reminds the cable-cutting issue that dragged on in recent years between the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and ISPs. At one point, this even led the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) to declare the internet a fundamental need. However, here, Ntc is the authority issuing the warning.
As a telecom giant, it lets other service providers use its infrastructure and receives a rental fee in payment. Therefore, if you were unaware, it’s worth understanding that Ntc allows various companies, such as ISPs and cable TV service providers, to use its poles to run their services to customers’ homes. For this, they must pay pole rental fees to the company. Check out: Best Internet service providers in Nepal
Let’s hope that the conflict between Ntc and ISP, cable TV providers, doesn’t result in an internet outage for customers. Likewise, any conflict between the telecom giant and service providers should see resolved through a common ground. However, do notice that the international internet bandwidth payment to the Indian upstream providers has not been resolved permanently, which led to the six-hours internet outage or slowdown in Nepal.
