Kathmandu. Free Wi-Fi internet service is now available at 19 public places in the Kathmandu Valley. Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Jagadish Kharel, has initiated the expansion of free Wi-Fi internet service in various hospitals, Pashupatinath temple premises, airport and sensitive and important and public service providers.

According to the Ministry, the Wi-Fi internet service has already been maintained in the places where the internet service is available, the quality has been increased and the capacity has been expanded, while eight new ones have been connected in eight places including three under construction.

According to the Ministry, new Wi-Fi services will be available in New Bus Park, Bhaktapur Hospital, Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital, Kirtipur Hospital and Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.

Similarly, the Thulobhyang Transport Management Office in Kathmandu and Transport Management Office in Ekantakuna of Lalitpur are being set up and capacity enhancement works are underway. According to the Ministry, a new transport management office at Radhe Radhe of Bhaktapur is under construction.

The concerned organization has already signed an agreement with the service provider company for the continuity and sustainability of free Wi-Fi. Nepal Telecom, WorldLink and Vianet have collaborated for the installation of free Wi-Fi internet.

Under the special initiative of Minister Kharel, the regulator Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) has expanded the access of free Wi-Fi internet in coordination with the service providing companies.

According to the NEA, the bandwidth has been increased to 150 Mbps in Bir Hospital, Paropakar Maternity Hospital and Women’s Hospital, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital Maharajgunj, Teku Hospital, Kanti Children’s Hospital, Sahid Gangalal National Heart Centre, Civil Hospital, National Trauma Centre, Patan Hospital, Sahid Dharma Bhakta Mathema National Medical Center and Pashupati Temple premises. For each device in these regions, it has been increased from 100MB to 500MB.

Similarly, Nepal Telecom has prepared an action plan to expand free Wi-Fi at 35 airports including Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).

Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital has six access points and Kirtipur Hospital has five access points.

Minister Kharel, while assuming the office on September 23, had signed on his first decision to provide free Wi-Fi service at important public places in the Kathmandu Valley within two months. According to the Ministry, works are underway to provide free Wi-Fi internet in ten important cities outside the Kathmandu Valley.

A team including Minister Kharel is scheduled to visit New Bus Park, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Pashupati area and Tribhuvan International Airport from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm today to monitor the operation of free Wi-Fi internet service.