Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have been left bemused by the handling of underground cables in the New Road area by the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). The two have come under a fresh conflict as NEA removed internet cables from poles to free the area of overhead cables causing internet service disruptions.
The Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) Internet has gone off in New Road for over ten days since NEA’s groundbreaking underlaid cable works were completed. The move has drawn immense appreciation from the public, however, ISPs have come under a situation regarding the management of their cables in the current scenario. Businesses and residents have been left without the internet due to the removal of poles from the area.
Internet outage in New Road as NEA switches to underground cables
Internet companies run cables overhead through the poles to the customers. It’s the established and traditional way among the ISPs to provide internet service in Nepal. But since NEA removed the poles to run them underground, the internet service has gone down in New Road.
To reinstate the internet, some companies are still making a workaround effort to run cables overhead by running the internet cables on the railings. Companies’ maintenance staff can be seen making attempts to reestablish the connection in the current method.
Well, it was not that NEA didn’t notify the IPSs about the removal of poles. The authority issued a notice on Jestha 03 notifying that it would remove internet cables, fiber, CCTV cameras, street lights, and other infrastructures. It gave service providers and concerned authorities six months to mandatorily remove their equipment off the poles.
Also read: Fiber internet users in Nepal: 28.04 lakh as per NTA
NEA states that its underground system is capable of distributing the internet service
NEA maintains that the current underground infrastructure can be used to provide internet, cable TV, and other communication services. However, internet companies have rejected such a possibility.
A senior official from a prominent ISP said that NEA has placed two ducts at key locations. However, they can’t be used for distribution of the internet because fiber internet technology uses a different system. The official also said that NEA acted unilaterally on the matter.
He even added that if the internet distribution in New Road is to work, it requires NEA to dig up again and restructure the necessary infrastructure. He also raised the possibility of internet outages in more areas where the authority takes a similar approach.
But NEA spokesman Chandan Kumar Ghosh argues that no ISP has registered their complaint regarding the difficulty in internet distribution resulting from underground structures. He said that the authority built the structure in coordination with the ISPs and the duct wire is properly laid underground.
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What’s next?
While NEA and ISPs’ lack of common understanding and coordination culture has surfaced again, the common problem remains the same. The customers always bear the brunt. Sadly, it’s not even the first time. For e.g., in 2022, NEA cut off the power outing internet services leading to internet problems for many.
The lack of coordination between the NEA and the ISPs seems unbelievable. But it is also violating paying customers’ right to continuous service flow. ISPs have tried to use houses’ railings to run the internet cables. But the metropolitan office has directed them to postpone such an idea. So, it remains unclear when the fiber internet will resume in New Road again. ISPs are likely to consider compensating customers for the days they are going to remain disconnected.
More: NEA brings advanced Tier 3 data center into operation with next-generation features
What is your opinion on the continuous issues customers get resulting from the lack of NEA and ISPs’ togetherness in development projects? Do you believe that the government should lead the discussions being the legislator and the executive? Drop your opinion in our comment section below.
