Nepal Telecom has started telecom service at the base of Mount Saipal (Saipal Himal) on Ashar 09, 2081 at an altitude of 3600 meters. The company started the communication service in Ranisain, Namkha Rural Municipality-03, Humla district using VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) technology.
The launch of this serves the locals in remote and rural regions with a much-needed telephone service. Ranisain is situated in the border area of three districts Humla, Bajura, and Bajhang.
To give you a glimpse of how remote the place is, here is what a local shared. Sonu Lama, a local said that the place is reachable after one day of traveling by a vehicle from Bajura headquarters Martadi and then four days of walking it while it takes 3-4 hours of travel on a vehicle and a day of walking to reach it from Humla headquarters Simkot.
Earlier, it was possible to communicate through mobile services only after reaching about 20 kilometers below Lampata and 5,500 meters above Sake. Now about 600 residents can easily make telephone calls to relatives, Lama added.
Also find: Latest Ntc Data Pack [2024]
Nepal Telecom brings VSAT-based mobile service in Namkha at the Mount Saipal base
Earlier, mobile service was available 20 kilometers below in Lampata, and in Saake at the elevation of 5,500 meters. But now, around 600 locals can benefit from the mobile service launch right on the base of Mount Saipal via VSAT technology.
The locals can utilize the mobile service to call their relatives and friends via mobile devices. NT has been very active in expanding communication services in rural regions. In areas where the company can’t easily establish terrestrial transmission links, it launches telecom services based on VSAT technology. As VSAT has a limited bandwidth and is expensive too, it can only provide basic telephone service using traditional phone network or 2G network.
People in Humla and Bajura now have access to mobile service at the altitude of 3,600 meters after Ntc launched mobile service in Namkha Rural Municipality – 03, Humla
Namkha and Ranisain are grazing areas which are situated in the foothills of Mount Saipal. It’s not inhabited much as it snows here for over six months in a year. However, now residents and even tourists in Humla and Bajura can all access communication at 3,600 meters altitude thanks to Ntc’s telephone service launch.
To bring VSAT telephone service in Namkha -03 people carried necessary equipment from the Tanjakot border in Humla to Ranisain for about four days. The company has expanded its services in the area in accordance with the government’s policy to expand access to telecommunication services in rural areas.
While 2G, 3G, and 4G are available for mobile users in most places, also there are Namaste WiFi internet packages for users seeking wireless broadband service. Particularly, if there is NT fiber service available, then the wireless 4G-backed WiFi service is ideal for you.
Check out: Latest Nepal Telecom fiber internet FTTH packages [2024]
Commitment to expand the services to remote and rural areas
Being a government-backed company, NT continues its focus on expanding services to more areas in the country. The company has put efforts into service expansion ahead of revenues. Therefore, it’s investing in remote areas to bring communication services even when revenue prospects seem low while expenditures are big.
Continuing with its drive, Ntc launched VSAT-based mobile service in Gosainkunda in Rasuwa, Tinkar in Darchula, Kimathanka in Sankhuwasabha, etc. in fiscal year FY 2080/81.
While 2G mobile service addresses the need for voice service, it’s not extremely useful for data. So, we expect that Nepal Telecom plans to launch a 4G GSM mobile service at the Mount Saipal base in Namkha Rural Municipality soon. But there is a limitation of transmission infrastructure at the moment which can be resolve once NT sets up terrestrial transmission there with higher bandwidth.
The difficult landscape of Nepal poses major challenges for telecom service providers to expand their services. It’s a key reason why communication services are yet to reach all the nooks and crannies across the country. This also compels us to ponder if commercial large-scale satellite services deserve more priority.
What do you think of Nepal Telecom starting a 2G mobile service based on VSAT in Ranisain, Namkha at the base of Mount Saipal? Is it too basic or is the right path in the right direction? Do share your opinion in the comments below.
