Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) is shortly calling a global tender for Voice over Broadband services (VoBS), a service which once into operation will allow consumers to receive overseas call via internet and also make internet service cheaper. Under the current technology, receiving call from abroad via internet in telephone or mobile phone is illegal.
Purushottam Khanal, director at NTA - the telecom service regulator - told Republica that the bidding document has been forwarded to the Ministry of Information and Communications (MoIC).
“After the approval from the ministry, the document will be sent to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for final approval,” he added.
ADB is providing $6 million to the operator that wins the bid. To participate in the global tender, interest firms should have net worth of at least $4 million and should be capable of providing the service in at least 25 districts, including 1,300 VDCs.
Khanal said the service is likely to be available within two years. “We are targeting rural sector to overcome the existing digital divide,” he said, adding that the first operator will also get subsidies.
Apart from the winning bidder, NTA can also license other firms to operate VoBS. “Firms meeting our pre-requisites can apply for the license. But they won´t get any subsidy,” said Khanal.
NTA is planning to introduce the service in urban areas after covering rural areas. The service will allow customers to use high speed internet through telephone line. NTA officials are hopeful that the service would help minimize illegal use of VoIP.
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