Kathmandu. Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Jagadish Kharel, has inaugurated the free internet service at Gongabu-based New Bus Park.

Minister Kharel, who assumed office on September 20 with a decision to provide free Wi-Fi at important public places in the Kathmandu Valley, inaugurated the service today.

On the occasion, Minister Pun informed that free internet services were installed at 19 places in Kathmandu Valley including the new bus park. “We have started connecting free internet service to the internet service as per the commitment made during my assumption of office in the capacity of the minister.

Informing that the government has been working to expand internet services in remote areas including capital Kathmandu, he said, “We have been connected to Darchula, Bajhang, Jajarkot and Tilicho base camp of Manang. ’

Saying the government has set a target to avail free internet service in all seven provinces, Minister Kharel said necessary works were underway to expand telephone and internet service in all rural areas, rural and remote areas.

Communications Secretary Radhika Aryal said that the capacity of the internet will be expanded throughout the country considering the development in the information technology sector, resources and demand of service recipients. Chairman of Nepal Telecommunication Authority Bhupendra Bhandari informed that the free Wi-Fi internet service has been expanded in sensitive and important places like New Bus Park, Kathmandu-based big hospitals, Pashupatinath Temple premises, Airport and other sensitive places as per the directive of the Ministry of Communications.

Engineer Deepak Kunwar, chairman of Lhotse Multipurpose Pvt Ltd at New Buspark, expressed his confidence that the new bus park will be relieved with the start of free internet service.

According to NEA, the Wi-Fi internet service has already been maintained in the places where the internet service is available and the quality has been increased and eight new ones have been installed in different places including three under construction. Similarly, the transport management office at Thulawyang and Transport Management Office at Ekantakuna are being set up and capacity enhancement works are underway.

With the initiation of Minister Kharel, the free and effective Wi-Fi service is coming into operation at New Bus Park, Bhaktapur Hospital, Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital, Kirtipur Hospital and Tribhuvan International Airport.

For the continuity and sustainability of free Wi-Fi, Nepal Telecom, WorldLink and Vianet have agreed to provide free Wi-Fi internet service. Meanwhile, Minister Kharel is scheduled to visit the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Maharajgunj, Pashupati Temple and Tribhuvan International Airport today to monitor the operation of internet services.