Kathmandu, 5 Nov: Taking charge as the Communications Minister on Ashoj 6 with the decision to provide free Wi-Fi access in important public places of the Kathmandu Valley, Minister Kharel visited New Bus Park today and inaugurated the service.
On this occasion, he informed that free internet service has been installed at 19 locations in the Kathmandu Valley, including New Bus Park. “In accordance with the commitment made during my assumption of office as a Minister, we have started installing free internet service. We will gradually expand this outside the valley as well,” Minister Kharel clarified.
Informing that the government is working to expand internet service to remote areas including the capital Kathmandu, he said, “We have already provided internet service to the Tilicho Base Camp in Darchula, Bajhang, Jajarkot, and Manang. The government is working with priority to provide effective internet service in areas with weak networks like Solukhumbu, Ramechhap, Rautahat, Myagdi, and Baitadi.”
Mentioning that the government has set a target to provide free internet service in the capitals of all seven provinces, Minister Kharel informed that necessary work is underway regarding providing telephone and internet services to all areas of the country, both accessible and remote villages and cities.
Communications Secretary Radhika Aryal stated that internet capacity is being expanded throughout the country, considering the development in the field of information technology, resources, and user demand.
Chairman of the Nepal Telecommunications Authority, Bhupendra Bhandari, informed that according to the directives of the Ministry of Communications, free Wi-Fi internet service has been expanded to sensitive and important locations like New Bus Park, various major hospitals in Kathmandu, the Pashupatinath Temple area premises, and the airport area.
Engineer Deepak Kunwar, Chairman of the Lhotse Multipurpose Building at New Bus Park, expressed confidence that with the start of the free internet service, visitors coming to New Bus Park will get relief.
The Authority has informed that repair, maintenance, quality enhancement, and capacity expansion have been carried out at locations where Wi-Fi internet service was already available, and new installations have been made at eight different locations, including three under construction.
Similarly, installation and capacity enhancement work is underway at the Traffic Management Office in Thulo Bharyang and the Traffic Management Office in Ekantakuna.
With the initiative of Communications Minister Kharel, free and effective Wi-Fi service will now be operational at New Bus Park, Bhaktapur Hospital, Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital, Kirtipur Hospital, and Tribhuvan International Airport. Nepal Telecom, WorldLink, and Vianet Company will collaborate for the free Wi-Fi internet service to ensure its continuity and coverage.
Meanwhile, the Ministry informed that Communications Minister Kharel has a program to monitor the internet service operation today by visiting Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Maharajgunj, Pashupati Temple, and Tribhuvan International Airport.
