NEA to Review Fees with Telecom and ISP Companies

Nepal Electricity Authority(NEA) is up to review its fee charges with telecommunication service providers, internet service providers and cable operators in return of using NEA infrastructure, reports The Himalayan Times.

Most Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and voice operators use NEA’s infrastructure for laying optical fibre and poles to fix their cables. Telecommunication service providers have been using these services at a minimal cost. And NEA is looking forward to review these costs.

According to the Times, NEA collects around Rs 250 million in revenue from the major telecommunication service providers like Nepal Telecom. NEA is looking to review the charges.

Kulman Ghising, managing director of NEA, says that the fees charged have been reviewed for a long since and earlier the electricity authority had permitted use of NEA’s infrastructure in a haphazard manner.

Ghising says, “NEA could generate more revenue from the telecommunication service providers, ISPs and cable operators, who are using NEA’s infrastructure.”

Nepal Telecom, Nepal’s leading telecom company has been using NEA infrastructure with a huge profit margin.

Min Prasad Aryal, spokesperson for Nepal Telecommunications Authority, informed that NEA is yet to hold discussion with NT regarding this matter. He said, “We’re planning to develop separate infrastructure for telecommunications. As the NEA is going to initiate underground cabling, we have requested to develop duct on cost-sharing basis, to which NEA has agreed.”

This move my NEA to review the charges could affect consumer as the telecom companies and the ISPs may transfer the cost to the consumers.