Government planning to reduce internet rates

Minister for Communications and Information Technology Parvat Gurung has said that the government is planning to slash internet charges in the country. He said that the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MoCIT) is conducting necessary study and homework to reduce the cost of internet services. Speaking at the 27th general assembly of the Federation of Computer Association of Nepal on February 28, Minister Gurung said that the government will soon take a decision on reducing the price of the internet. As the issue of expensive internet in the country has been raised time and again by the consumers as well as service providers, the government is looking for a way out. He also stressed on the need to make the internet more easily accessible for effective implementation of Digital Nepal Framework. “The government has introduced Digital Nepal Framework to promote use of technology in the country,” he said, “But for the success of this campaign, we need to make internet easily accessible.” He also said that the ministry is trying to draw the attention of the government towards the pole rental charge as well, as the high fees paid by the internet service providers for using the electricity poles of Nepal Electricity Authority is also making internet service expensive, as the cost is passed on to the consumers. Earlier, Secretary at the Ministry of Communications Hari Prasad Basyal had said in a meeting with ISPs that internet charges could be reduced through the next budget.