Nepal Govt to Bring Guidelines for Wireless Routers to Address Slow Internet Issues

Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) is working to introduce guidelines for wireless routers. The authority has decided to bring the regulation followed by the increasing number of complaints regarding slow internet.

According to Min Prashad Aryal, the director of NTA, the authority has started the initial study and has been discussing with the stakeholders about the possibilities of price revision.

The internet service providers share that substandard routers are one of the causes of slow internet.  A good router boosts the internet speed and a slow router can cause interrupted signals and slow internet.

Sudhir Parajuli, president of Internet Service Provider Association Nepal (ISPAN), says that around 60-70 percent of customers are facing problems on the internet due to router issues.

What the Router Guidelines in Nepal will have?

Aryal shares that the guideline for the router will have defined standards, security necessities, capacity and other criteria for a quality router.

Parajuli says most of the established ISPs of Nepal import routers from Nokia and Huawei brands from China. “There are ISPs which import substandard routers. And due to the recent lockdown, even we have been compelled to purchase common routers from the market,” he shares.

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According to the Department of Customs, Nepal imported 805,280 sets of routers in the fiscal year 2020/21. The numbers of imported units have grown by leaps and bounds in just a year. In 2019-2020, Nepal imported 115,374 units of routers.

Though we have type approval certificates, we need to be strict with monitoring and create more consumer awareness, Aryal says.

As per him, after the guideline comes into effect, the sellers and ISPs have to ensure warranty, replacement and maintenance. According to him, the guideline will be introduced in a month.

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