Kathmandu. KATHMANDU:- Nepal Telecom has airlifted telecom equipment and other necessary materials for expanding telephone and internet services in Badimalika area, the religious and tourism site of Bajura district, following the instruction of Minister for Information and Communications Dr Bikram Timilsina.

The equipment was airlifted to Badimalika area by Nepal Army helicopter on Tuesday as it became difficult to transport the equipment by land route due to geographical remoteness and lack of road connectivity.

Minister for Communications and Information Technology Timilsina on July 24 directed Nepal Telecom to immediately initiate the necessary process for the expansion of telephone and internet services. He also laid emphasis on expanding the access of communications service in the remote and touristic areas and directed the concerned authorities to operate the service at Badimalika as soon as possible.

Following this directive, the Ministry has continuously coordinating with Nepal Telecom to speed up the necessary infrastructure, equipment transportation and installation process. On the occasion, Minister for Communications and Information Technology Timilsina had held discussion with Badimalika municipality mayor Amar Bahadur Khadka and took information on the condition of local roads and possible support from the local level. He directed to make arrangements for transportation of equipment and materials by helicopter as it was not possible to transport the equipment and materials by land route.

According to Brijesh Sharma, director of Nepal Telecom Sudurpaschim Province Directorate, the supply has been delayed for some time due to adverse weather. He said that although Nepal Telecom had tried to transport the goods to Badimalika since August 1, the flights could not take place due to unfavorable weather. The technical team assigned to the airport had to be called back due to bad weather.

Director Sharma said that although the materials were transported to the designated place through helicopter on Tuesday, there is a situation to carry around four thousand kilograms of equipment and other materials to the project site through human resources. According to him, human resource management has also been challenging along with transportation of equipment in the high mountainous region.

According to him, coordination is being made with the mayors of Badimalika and Tribeni municipalities to transport the equipment to the installation site, manage human resources capable of working at high altitude and arrange necessary support from the local level. According to Nepal Telecom, the site will be brought into operation within five days once all the required materials reach the connection site.

Earlier, Nepal Telecom had set a target to bring the service to Badimalika area by mid-July. The project was initially scheduled to complete by August 12, but it has been delayed due to adverse weather, mountainous geography and difficulties in transportation of materials. However, Nepal Telecom is preparing to operate the service as soon as possible by expediting equipment installation and technical works.

The Badimalika Temple area is situated at an altitude of four thousand two hundred meters above sea level. Located in the high mountainous region, the area lacked reliable telephone and internet service despite the increase in religious tourism as well as the flow of domestic and foreign tourists. Due to the lack of communication services, the locals, pilgrims and tourists have been facing problems in communication and information exchange.

Nepal Telecom (NTC) is preparing to launch 4G services in Badimalika area in the initial phase. According to the government’s plan to expand mobile broadband access in remote and touristic areas, works have been forwarded to extend modern telecommunication services in high mountainous areas as well.

According to Nepal Telecom, a study has been forwarded for the expansion of 4G services in the Sagarmatha Base Camp area along with Badimalika. Necessary technical and geographical study is being carried out prioritizing the expansion of communication services in the high mountainous region where tourism activities are increasing.

Before this, Nepal Telecom has extended 4G services in some places of high mountainous region. The 4G service has come into operation at an altitude of 3,900 meters from sea level in Lhan area of Tripurasundari Municipality-6 and Dunai area of Thulibheri Municipality-1 in Dolpa. Similarly, 4G service has been started at an altitude of 3,400 meters at Olangchungola of Taplejung.

The government has given priority to the expansion of telecommunication infrastructure in the remote, rural areas and areas where communication services are weak. The expansion of access to mobile and internet services has been accelerated with the objective of connecting the areas deprived of communication services due to geographical remoteness to the national communications network and reducing the digital divide.

To improve the access and quality of telecommunication services across the country, the process of constructing about one thousand six hundred new mobile towers and related sites has been initiated. Nepal Telecom is preparing to invest more than six billion rupees in the current fiscal year alone for the expansion of service in rural and remote areas, capacity enhancement and quality improvement.