The Internet may be shut down tonight if the Ministry of Communication does not obey the court order. The government of Nepal, the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, has disobeyed even the order of the court, thus creating a situation where essential services like the internet are closed in the country. As the ministry did not allow foreign exchange, the Indian upstream provider could not get the payment for the bandwidth, so the risk of the internet itself being shut down has increased.
India’s upstream providers, such as Tata, Airtel, Siffy, etc., have given a deadline of December 31 (15th) for the payment of bandwidth. They had already warned that the internet service providers in Nepal would not be able to provide internet bandwidth and links if they did not receive such payments.
The internet service provider company Worldlink went to the Supreme Court on November 23, 2076, against the letter sent by the Nepal Telecommunication Authority regarding the collection of undue arrears under the title of maintenance.
An interim order was given saying not to do it. “This order has been extended till the end of the writ petition,” said the Supreme Court.
The hearing date has been set for the next 21 Falgun 2080 for the case currently under consideration in the Supreme Court.
Regarding the matter that has been explained by the court and is under consideration for the final decision, the ministry has now stopped the foreign currency exchange facility of most of the internet and network service providers, including Worldlink.
The Ministry had written a letter to the Nepal Telecommunication Authority on September 9, 2080, referring to one of its investigation committees. Further, it was said, “The following service providers mentioned in the investigation report shall determine the amount of royalty and rural telecommunication development fund from the year 2069/70 to 2078/79 as stated below and file the charges and inform the ministry.”
After this, the ministry, through a letter on the 24th of Mangsir, said that the foreign currency will be recommended only if the documents and procedures are completed, including the payment of the remaining amount, including royalty, frequency fee, and rural telecommunication development fund, to be paid by Worldlink Limited as per the rules.
In the letter sent by the authority to the service providers on 15 Ashoj 2080, it has been asked to deposit the royalty amount and RTDF amount as soon as possible. As mentioned in the said letter, the amount of royalties and rural telecommunication development funds to be paid by the service providers from 2069/70 to 2078/79 should be ascertained and filed within seven days to be reported to this authority.
Meanwhile, the Authority sent a letter to the ministry on Poush 11 to prevent internet service disruption. It is mentioned that through the letter written on Friday, attention was drawn to the letter that the internet service may be shut down.
It is requested to coordinate for regular operation of the service without allowing any kind of interruption of internet service,” the authority said. Attempts have been made for a long time to recommend foreign currency for the amount of bandwidth to be paid to Indian upstream providers. But the ministry has been ignoring the efforts of the regulator.
If that happens, there is a risk that not only the general user will be deprived of the service, but also the existence of some Internet provider companies will cease to exist.
But the ministry of Nepal said there is no close of internet service that can be used in Nepal. Even the ministry of Nepal will be trying to send a letter to the government of India in which they have agreements among the internet service to link to follow up.
Some internet companies will follow the rules and regulations under the government policy to use their Internet service to give all users over there. I hope you will know all those things happen to see here.