NTA mulls to shift frequency band of UTL

Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) is planning to shift frequency carrier of United Telecom Ltd (UTL) from GSM band to CDMA.

“The shifting process is under the discussion currently,” NTA spokesperson Kailash Prasad Neupane said, adding that the next board meeting of the authority could take decision on the matter.

The authority is preparing to grant UTL’s frequency to Smart Telecom, an informed source at the authority said, adding that it will be another hasty decision of the authority that has been under pressure from the lawmakers for its earlier hasty decisions.

Currently, UTL is using frequency under CDMA 800 band and 1900 band.

“Of which, CDMA 880-890 band can be used for both CDMA and GSM technology,” the source said.

Currently, UTL is using three carriers — 824-827 MHz paired with 869-872 MHz (2x3 MHz) and 840-841.25 MHz paired with 885-886.25 MHz (2x1.25 MHz) under CDMA 800 band and 1855-1860 MHz paired with 1935-1940 MHz (2x5 MHz) under CDMA 1900 band, according to the authority.

The authority had granted the frequency to UTL to operate CDMA technology at first and later the authority had granted the frequency under MSTDMA technology and it is preparing to shift the technology from 885-90 from CDMA to GSM, the soure said, adding that the hidden motive of the authority is to provide frequency band to Smart Telecom — a rural telecom service provider — which has acquired licence to operate in different 25 rural districts.

A sub-committee of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) under Legislature Parliament has been questioning the intention of the authority and Ministry of Information and Communication for providing more facilities to the Smart telecom.

The sub-committee members in a recent meeting had doubted the government’s intention of providing more facilities in rampant manner.

The sub-committee coordinator and former finance minister Dr Prakash Chandra Lohani had pledged that the government officials should be brought under the scanner for their suspected activities.

The government had granted licence to Smart Telecom on 2008 July 1. It has some 109,229 consumer base until mid-June.

However, spokesperson at the Nepal Telecommunications Authority said that the authority will reach into the conclusion after thorough discussion on the issue as the authority’s decision has been questioned by the lawmakers.