Telecom and Internet services in the epidemic: a disaster & an opportunity
The Internet and the telecommunications sector are always busy, while COVID-19 is having a devastating effect on everyone. During this period, some are facing high pressure of service consumption. Some people are trying to make new customers while others are losing existing customers.
Many service providers have not been able to provide services to the customers due to supply problems including fiber, devices, recharge cards and there is also a problem in expanding new customers. There are many complaints from the service recipients due to lack of quality service. Covid has created both problems and opportunities for service providers.
Meanwhile, in a virtual interaction organized by the Economic Journalists’ Society on Thursday, participants talked about the aftermath and opportunities of COVID-19. Due to the global spread of COVID-19, the use of internet is also increasing in Nepal. The trend of data consumption has also changed as compared to the previous lockdown and now it is time to provide services to the citizens through electronic system by increasing investment in content along with connectivity.
“Internet is the only way to get information on new areas like e-learning, virtual meetings, study materials, entertainment,” said Sarakarwala. Director of the Nepal Telecommunications Authority, Vijay Kumar Roy, said that some online outlets were shut down in collaboration with the Press Council, the cyber directive was implemented and the NEA worked on an e-education package.
He feels that due to the activism of the service providers during the time of COVID-19, the complaints of the customers have not come as expected. Due to COVID-19, data consumption has increased tremendously in urban areas and connectivity problems in rural areas have also raised fears that the problem of digital divide will increase.
Rural telecommunications expert Pawan Shakya said the condition of both connectivity and content in the village was worse than in the city. There is an opportunity to choose a service in the city, there is a lot of people who can find and understand even in content. He said that the focus should now be on the rural areas. He also urged the people to be vigilant as the digital divi
de in rural and urban areas would become bigger in the future if the rural areas were not addressed.
And that is the end of the topic: Telecom and Internet services in the epidemic: a disaster & an opportunity
Subisu’s customer service affected when electricity pole moved, the company requested to contact Viber
The customer service of internet service provider Subisu has been affected when the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) moved the electricity pole. The company has made alternative arrangements to register complaints saying that the regular customer service contact numbers 01-4235888 and 01-4217444 have not worked for the time being.
Subisu said that the work of repairing the telephone line is underway as soon as the work of moving the pole is completed and it will resume soon. For now, the company has made alternative arrangements for customers inside and outside Kathmandu. Accordingly, customers within the Kathmandu Valley will be able to call 9801235888, call 9801158999 via SMS and Viber and send an email by clicking here.
Similarly, arrangements have been made to send SMS and Viber 9801158665 mobile numbers and emails by clicking here. The company has also stated that its complaints and problems can be recorded from the company’s web chat and Facebook chat.
And that is the end of the topic: Subisu’s customer service affected when electricity pole moved, the company requested to contact Viber
Government to provide free internet to students for online classes!
The government has provided free internet for students. The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has made an arrangement to provide free internet to students and schools from next September to facilitate learning.
The Student Learning Facilitation Guide mentions the issue of providing free internet to students and schools under the role of the Ministry of Education. The guideline states that the data packages will be provided free of cost to the schools and students by getting free or concessional fees from the internet service providers including Nepal Telecom for educational purposes only.
It is mentioned in the guideline that such data and internet will be made available only for educational purposes.
The information issued for the implementation of the directive states that the government at all three levels should implement the directive in order to achieve the learning achievements specified in the national curriculum format and to create an environment conducive to learning for school-age children.
The ministry said free internet was needed after schools and students complained that online classes were affected by the high cost of internet.
And that is the end of the topic: Government to provide free internet to students for online classes!
Telecom’s Forge service reaches 533 local levels in 77 districts
Nepal Telecom has expanded its Forge service to 533 local levels in 77 districts. Speaking at a webinar program organized by the Economic Journalists’ Society on Thursday, Managing Director of the Telecom, Dilli Ram Adhikari, said that the telco has expanded to all districts of the country in a short period of time.
He also said that Forge data is increasing due to the introduction of low-cost Forge smartphones in the market. Stating that the post-Cavid-19 developments have affected the work of expanding forge to rural areas, he said that there are plans to expand the forge at 753 local levels of the country soon.
Due to the geographical complexity, Tele-com is providing Forge service in both the bands of 800 MHz and 1800 MHz to provide service from one place to another in rural and remote areas. Telecom is also in the process of providing free service from 2300 MHz.
The official said that due to COVID-19, users are getting closer to the digital system and now is the time to implement financial inclusion. ‘As technology expands, the concept of financial inclusion is coming to mobiles. Our path now is a castleless society’, he said.
Managing Director Adhikari pointed out the need to bring a policy for the rollout of new technology 5G.
And that is the end of the topic: Telecom’s Forge service reaches 533 local levels in 77 districts