Kathmandu. Nepal Telecom (NTC) is expanding the reach of telecommunications in rural areas. Nepal Telecom’s network has been expanded in remote areas of Far-West, Karnali and Madhesh provinces and access to 4G service has been enhanced. Telecom, which has been expanding the reach of telecommunication in remote areas, is expanding telecommunication access to remote areas one after another.

Bajura–High-speed internet service has been launched in Budhinanda Rural Municipality of Bajura district. Nepal Telecom has installed a new 4G LTE tower at Ward No. 7 of the rural municipality. Narendra Mahat, a local, said that the locals of ward no 7, 8, 9 and 10 of Budhinanda would be directly benefited from the telecom tower.

Meanwhile, various settlements in Thulibheri Municipality and Shey-Phoksundo Rural Municipality of Dolpa have been connected to communications. NT’s technician Nawaraj Bhattarai informed that the 4G tower with internet has come into operation from Thursday. At the same time, half a dozen settlements including Phoksundo Trail and Yarsha Patan which have been deprived of communication facility for years have been connected to communications, he added.

The expansion of Telecom’s network and internet access in every nook and corner of the country have been increased at the interest and initiative of Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Jagadish Kharel.

Before this, the 4G service was extended to Tilicho Base Camp of Manang for the first time on October 14. Not only that, the 4G service was also extended to Talkot of Bajhang for the first time on October 15 at the initiative of Minister Kharel. Nepal Telecom’s 2G and 4G services have been started at Marma Rural Municipality of Darchuchal on October 14. The telecommunication service, which was disrupted for two weeks in Jajarkot, was resumed after the prompting of the Minister for Information and Communications.

Minister Kharel said that efforts were underway to reach the remote areas of the country that lack telephone and internet service. Stating that access to communications was the right of every citizen, he directed the Nepal Telecom to ensure equal service in all districts. The 4G internet service has been restored in Budhinanda Rural Municipality of Bajura district. Locals have said that internet and mobile connectivity has improved not only in various wards of Budhinanda but also in the Martadi-Kolti road and nearby settlements.

Earlier, the locals had been complaining that the voice and data services were available only when the sun was shining. With the operation of the new tower, emergency contact, online transactions, and family message exchange have become easier. According to Nepal Telecommunication Authority, the market share of Nepal Telecom Company under mobile broadband is 55.96 percent and Ncell’s is 44.04 percent. That is, the number of mobile users in Nepal Telecom has reached 143 lakh 54 thousand 804 and Ncell has reached 1 crore 39 lakh 81 thousand 875 till last August.

Currently, fixed broadband (wired) has reached 48.82 percent of the population. Also, 91.55 percent of the population has access to mobile broadband. 4G service has reached 88.68 percent, fiber service 48.81 percent, 2G service 10.36 percent and 3G service 2.86 percent across the country.

Nepal Telecom has continued the installation of new towers and upgrading old towers in remote areas of Bajhang, Bajura, Darchula, Doti, Achham, and Baitadi in the far-western region. Similarly, two settlements of Rah, Parila, Kagni, Sangta and Chepka of Dolpa have access to the internet as well. It is said that good works have also been done in the office of Shey-Phoksundo National Park and Army Barracks area at Suligadh with the construction of the tower.

Similarly, private sector service provider company Ncell has also moved ahead aggressively in improving the quality and expansion of services. According to the company, it has already installed 45 towers so far as it has a target of expanding 200 towers by mid-January and giving priority to Madhesh and Koshi provinces. Currently, Ncell’s 4G service has expanded to cover 95% of the population, including remote areas and 2G service to over 92% of the population.

Meanwhile, after receiving complaints about the lack of telephone and internet service in some places of Dang, the Minister of Information and Communications immediately directed the employees of Nepal Telecom. The network problem seen in some areas of Ghorahi Sub-Metropolitan City-3 and 5 was resolved. Nepal Telecom, Tulsipur, Dang has improved its 4G network.