Integrated Telecommunications Policy 2083: Revision in Renewal Fees and Mobile Number Portability to be Implemented

August 23, Kathmandu.

The draft of the ‘Integrated Telecommunications Policy, 2083’ prepared by the Nepal Telecommunications Authority signals widespread reforms in Nepal’s telecommunications sector. Previously, telecom companies faced financial pressure due to high lump-sum renewal fees at a single rate, but now fees will be determined based only on a certain percentage of annual income.

Key Features of the Integrated Telecommunications Policy 2083

Annual Income-Based Renewal Fee: Instead of a heavy lump sum, license renewal fees will be determined based on a percentage of income.

Mobile Number Portability (MNP): Customers will be able to choose any service provider’s network without changing their old number.

High-Speed Broadband Internet: The goal is to provide a minimum of 50 Mbps internet speed to 80% of the population within 5 years and 98% within 10 years.

Subsidized Digital Inclusion: Special affordable packages will be introduced for the poor, women, persons with disabilities, and marginalized communities.

Infrastructure Co-use and Cybersecurity: Ducts for optical fiber will be made mandatory on roads and highways, to reduce duplicate investment in infrastructure and establish a ‘CSIRT’ for customer data security.

Broadband Internet Targets and Fee Structure

Metric	5-Year Target	10-Year Target
Minimum Internet Speed	50 Mbps	50 Mbps
Population Coverage	80 percent	98 percent
Internet Fee (as % of GNI)	Less than 2%	Less than 1.5%

 

Additional Policy Reforms

Integrated License System: An integrated license system will be implemented instead of separate licenses.

Foreign Investment and Domestic Participation: While attracting foreign investment, a minimum of 20 percent domestic participation will be ensured.

Radio Frequency Auction: To make frequency distribution transparent, an auction (bidding) and time-based pricing policy will be adopted.

Use of Latest Technology: Commercial use of 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be opened.

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the Nepal Telecommunications Authority have announced that they will modify the necessary legal frameworks for the implementation of this policy within the next six months.

For more: Nepal Telecom Policy Revenue Renewal Fee