1. 3/30/2024 WG Meeting on Policy and
Regulation, 9-10 Aug 2010
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Country Experience on
Work Items of Policy and
Regulation Working Group
Presented By
Bijay Kumar Roy
Deputy Director, Engineering (ICT Development)
Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA)
2. 3/30/2024 WG Meeting on Policy and
Regulation, 9-10 Aug 2010
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Identified Areas of Study
1. Adoption of Green Technologies and
safety of wireless networks
2. Facilitation of Broadband in SATRC
Countries
3. CIIP and Cyber Security
4. VoIP Issues
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Regulation, 9-10 Aug 2010
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1(a). Green Technology:
Nepal’s Perspective
The Telecommunications Policy, 2004 has made
the provision for Technology Neutral License
and it is mentioned that the service provider may
choose any telecommunication technology.
It is also stated in the Policy that the equipment
selected by the service provider for the
technology shall be required to be internationally
recognized (as per the international
specification), advanced and field proved.
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Regulation, 9-10 Aug 2010
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1(b). Safety from Wireless Networks:
Nepal’s Perspective
NTA has published a consultation paper
entitled “Guidelines on Erection of Antenna
Structures and Protection from Non - Ionizing
Radiation from Radio Base stations“ with a view
to adopt safety norms and precautions while
erecting antenna structures, and to
protect/ensure health and safety of the general
public and occupational personnel as well as to
maintain beauty of the city skylines.
5. 1(b). Safety from Wireless Networks:
Nepal’s Perspective
The Guideline makes it mandatory to take
approval certificate from NTA before the
erection of any Antenna Structure and states
that all towers and associated structures, meant
for telecommunications purposes and installed
within the territory of Nepal, must comply with
local safety and urban development
requirements and adhere to this guideline.
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Regulation, 9-10 Aug 2010
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6. J.E. Moulder’s Study
A research was conducted by Prof. J.E. Moulder from University of
Wisconsin in some Canadian schools to evaluate exposure of
mobile telephone radiation on children as children are more
vulnerable to RF radiation than grown up people.
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Regulation, 9-10 Aug 2010
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7. Estimated Radiation near a Mobile Phone
Base Station (Measured by J.E. Moulder
in 2004 at a Canadian School)
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Regulation, 9-10 Aug 2010
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8. 1(b). Safety from Wireless Networks:
Nepal’s Perspective
The ICNIRP guidelines declare the effect harmful only when
a human being comes into direct path of an antenna radiating
surface (mounted on top of the tower) within 3 meters (10
feet).
Continuous exposure for a prolonged duration can cause
harmful effects on human health. The effect reduces as
distance increases and remains negligible at 8 meters (25
feet) and beyond.
The level of radiation that is not harmful for human health
due to the fact that such antennas are generally mounted on
towers and rooftops more than 100 feet away from the road
levels.
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Regulation, 9-10 Aug 2010
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9. 3/30/2024 WG Meeting on Policy and
Regulation, 9-10 Aug 2010
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2. Draft Broadband Policy of
Nepal : Major Highlights
Vision: To transform Nepal into “Information Society”
Mission: Build and extend broadband infrastructure
throughout Nepal
Goal: to make broadband internet penetration 15% by
2015 and 30% by 2020
Objectives:
(1) to develop and extend broadband technology infrastructure
(2) to provide broadband services at affordable rate and with
good quality
(3) to interlink and strengthen the government
agencies/departments for delivering e-government services
(4) to raise public awareness to use ICT related services
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Regulation, 9-10 Aug 2010
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2. Draft Broadband Policy of
Nepal : Major Highlights
Broadband Definition
Always ON Connection with Minimum upload and download
speeds of 128 kbps and 256 kbps
Strategies for the Implementation
To build and extend of existing optical fiber backbone in 75
districts
To raise awareness through ICT events
To share the broadband infrastructure
To provide e-government services
Current Status
Broadband internet penetration < 3%
Broadband Technologies in use: ADSL, Cable Modem, Optical
fiber, V-Sat, WiFi, 3G
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Regulation, 9-10 Aug 2010
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3. CIIP and Cyber Security in
the Context of Nepal
Nepal has promulgated The Electronic Transaction Act,
2063 ( December 8, 2006)
To make legal provisions for authentication and
regularization, validity, integrity and reliability of
generation, production, processing, storage of
electronic records
Controller of Certification Authority (CCA) has been
established
Sometime there is dilemma in working between
different entities say who regulates for content?
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Regulation, 9-10 Aug 2010
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4. VoIP Issues in the
Context of Nepal
In the present regulatory framework, IP
Telephony has been categorized into
two broad groups namely,
VoIP (Voice Communication over Managed
IP-based networks),
Internet Telephony and
IP telephony being defined as “the
transmission of voice signals over packet
switched IP-based networks.”
13. 4. VoIP Issues in the
Context of Nepal (contd.)
VoIP:
Allowed to ILD Operators (In Nepal all voice
operators, fixed, mobile and rural operators
have ILD gateways),
No license fee required if it has ILD License
Phone-to-Phone VoIP ( using E.164
numbering and Access Code)
Need approval from Regulator before
imposing tariffs to consumers
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Regulation, 9-10 Aug 2010
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16. 4. VoIP Issues in the Context
of Nepal (contd.)
Internet Telephony:
Internet Service Providers are allowed to
provide Internet telephony which covers PC-to-
PC voice (pure IP), PC-to-Phone (abroad)
communications.
ISPs are providing Internet Telephony using
calling cards and ATAs to call abroad.
No additional License required except ISP
They also need to get tariff approval before
imposing any rates to consumers.
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19. 4. Scenario after Opening up of
VoIP and Internet Telephony
Even though, the Operators having ILD operators are allowed to
use VoIP gateway, only recently few of the operator has announced
such service publicly; and therefore, the consumers were deprived
of getting benefit from such technological advancements
GoN, NTA and Telecom operators are facing challenges from VoIP
call bypass resulting as not many of the ILD operators are making
use of VoIP gateway.
Similarly, ISPs are focused mainly for providing Internet Telephony
calls abroad rather than within the country. This has created
competition in ILD sector.
Also, the people living in rural areas who have access to Internet
are not able to make calls to PSTN/PLMN and are deprived from
this benefit due regulatory restriction and this Has been a Great
Issue.
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20. 4. VoIP Issues in the Context
of Nepal- Issues
NTA has prepared a consultation paper
for fully opening up of VoIP services
Some of the issues in consultation were:
Should separate category of ITSP be created to
make IP Telephony Calls to PSTN/PLMN network
within the country and abroad?
Should the number of Licenses for ITSP terminating
to PSTN/PLMN be limited?
What should be the License fee and/or Eligibility
criteria? And so on.
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21. 4. VoIP Issues in the Context
of Nepal- Big Concerns
The Operators showed big concerns
mainly one followings:
Issue of non-level playing field among various, since the
ISPs and telecom operators have paid different license fee for
providing differing services.
The telcos claim that it is not justifiable to extend the scope of
ISPs because a technology is available for providing different
types of services.
QoS, Security and Interconnection, the telcos does not agree
to provide interconnection to ISPs and pointed out QoS, security
as the major issues for consumers.
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22. VoIP Call bypass
All of SATRC countries are facing VoIP
call bypass as a big issue/problem
Results huge revenue loss to the
Operators as well as to the Government
Operators are taking measures by
blocking the Phone Numbers, Mobile
Numbers (SIM box detections)
Is there any permanent solution for this?
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24. VoIP Issues in the Context
of Nepal - Way Forward
NTA is planning for in-house discussions
with concerned stakeholders and make
seek expert advice
The scenario in other SATRC countries like
India, Sri Lanka is also similar
SATRC member countries will be expecting
very comprehensive recommendations from
this Working Group.
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Regulation, 9-10 Aug 2010
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25. Telecom Statistics at a
glance- Nepal (14 June, 2010)
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Regulation, 9-10 Aug 2010
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26. Telecom Statistics at a glance-
Nepal (14 June, 2010)
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Regulation, 9-10 Aug 2010
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27. Thank you for your
kind attention.
Email: bkroy@nta.gov.np
URL: www.nta.gov.np
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Regulation, 9-10 Aug 2010
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