Last Updated on May 17, 2026
Summary✨
- As per OAG report, Telecom service providers owe the government over Rs 35.36 crore in royalty fees for FY 2080/81.
- The Telecommunications Regulations mandate a 4% royalty payment from licensed providers based on their annual income.
- 45 service providers reported a total revenue of Rs 8 arba, 84 crore, necessitating payment of the outstanding royalty and fines.
- Additionally, the government still awaits Rs 16.21 crore in RTDF from 13 service providers, who must pay 2% of their annual revenue within 6 months after the fiscal year end.
Various telecom service providers, ISPs haven’t cleared their royalties to the government for FY 2080/81. The 63rd summarized report from the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) shows that the government has yet to receive over Rs 35.36 crore in royalty fees from the service providers.
Royalty Fees
According to the office, the Telecommunications Regulations, 2054, hold that Nepal’s licensed service providers must submit 4% of their annual income in royalties every year. The report shows a delay in the collection of these fees from the companies from FY 2080/81. Check out the best ISPs in Nepal.
According to the report, 45 telecom service providers posted an annual revenue of Rs 8 arba, 84 crore, and 21 lakhs. That means they are in need to pay Rs 35 crore, 36 lakh, and 84 thousand in royalty and fines. The office recommends that the government speed up the collection of these fees from the concerned entities.
Similarly, there is a pending Spectrum fees applicable as per 31 of Telecommunication Regulations 2054, which needs to be paid within six months of year end. As per the report, one operator (unnamed) needs to submit Rs 73 crore 44 lakhs, which needs to be verified and collected.
Pending RTDF fees
Likewise, the government is yet to receive Rs 16.21 crore in RTDF from 13 service providers out of their annual revenue of Rs 8 arba, 10 crore, and 95 lakh. According to the report, these 13 service providers are out of the total 261 licensed by NTA. According to NTA’s RTDF Bylaw, 268 of 5, a company must pay 2% of its annual revenue in RTDF fee within 6 months after the end of the existing fiscal year.
Here is a summary of the total pending fees.
| Pending Fees items | Details | Amount (NPR) |
|---|---|---|
| Telecom Royalty (Rule 26) | Total income — 45 providers | 8,54,21,00,000 |
| Royalty due @ 4% | 35,36,54,000 | |
| Frequency & VSAT fees paid (1 provider) | 73,44,00,000 | |
| Rural Telecom Development Fund (Rule 5) | Total licensed providers | 261 |
| Providers in default | 13 | |
| Defaulters’ applicable annual income | 8,10,95,00,000 | |
| RTDF contribution due @ 2% | 16,21,00,000 | |
| TOTAL UNPAID DUES | Royalty + RTDF | 51,57,54,000 |
The government aims to use RTDF for mobile network expansion in the coming years.
Tell us what you think of service providers/operators not submitting the Royalty and other Fees as per the impending law.
