The Supreme Court has given its short-term interim decision in favor of WorldLink as it gears up for its license renewal. With this decision, the prominent internet service provider (ISP) has received a temporary respite from possible unfavorable conditions from Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA). WorldLink’s license validity reached 25 years on Friday, Chaitra 25, 2080. The company obtained its operating license on Chaitra 16, 2055 BS for internet and email services.
To put matters in context, WorldLink had earlier filed a writ at the SC demanding that it get the license claiming that it started the license renewal process in time and bears no outstanding dues to NTA. It was in response to NTA’s letter to it telling that it had to pay the arrears to get the license renewal. Otherwise, the regulator extended that there would be no facilitation for the company for the process.
While hearing the writ filed by Laxman Yadav on behalf of WorldLink, the single bench of Abdul Aziz Musalman issued a short-term interim decision. The court has also called on NTA for a discussion of the interim order. The case of WordLink’s arrears to NTA is already being processed at the Supreme Court. In this very case too, the court has given its interim order in favor of WorldLink. The regulator claims that the private ISP has Rs 1.5 billion dues to pay which the company strongly refutes.
It’s a relief for the company … for now
The decision from the Supreme Court gives it a temporary relief. However, the process for license renewal is quite hazy in Nepal. Much of this ambiguity comes from NTA‘s Telecommunications Act, 2053 which has no explicit provision for service providers regarding their license renewal after 25 years. But that doesn’t mean WorldLink will have to halt its services. Mercantile Communication Pvt. Ltd. also saw its license expire back on Chaitra 08 but it is still functioning legitimately. The only thing is how the private ISP will proceed through.
![Supreme Court](https://www.nepalitelecom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Supreme-court-Nepal.jpg)
According to article A (e) of section 24, in the Act, a licensee can be allocated a license not exceeding 10 years at first. After this, a company gets a license renewal not exceeding five years at a time which makes a total of 25 years for a company. For this, it’s stipulated that a willing licensee has to submit an application and license renewal fee at NTA 2 months before the date of license expiration. However, there is no clear and direct provision for license renewal after 25 years.
WorldLink has maintained that it has already reached NTA with an application for its license renewal before reaching its license expiration.
WorldLink serves as one of the major pillars for connectivity in Nepal and is a pivotal force in Nepal’s evolutionary internet history. The company received its license from NTA on Chaitra 16, 2055.
Don’t miss: Best ISP Internet Service Providers in Nepal: Comparing Packages, Prices, Speed and Offers [2024] update
WorldLink license renewal could inspire a policy change in the Telecom Act 2053
The Telecommunication Act 2053 has long been a debate, especially for its policies over license renewal and fees attached. Earlier, we heard about the possibility of amendments but that has not yet materialized. The Act is one of the areas where both mobile operators and internet service providers may agree to changes. WorldLink has over 8.21 lakh customers across Nepal and is one of the pivotal forces in home internet and Nepal’s digital transformation. Let’s see how the scene pans out with WorldLink and NTA seemingly coming into conflict over the latter’s dues for its license renewal.
WorldLink is Nepal’s top-tier broadband provider and the third-largest telecom company. In March 2023, it landed investments from BII and Dolma Impact Fund worth Rs 1.98 billion. The company is also planning on floating its shares via an IPO.