Telecom has reached a position of sharing its infrastructure with other providers. There is no doubt that opportunity is opportunity in infrastructure co-use. However, since 2072, the commission came, the legal system was made, now 78 new regulations have been implemented, and prices have also been set. However, the question that common consumers did not get the possible relief from sharing is raised from time to time.
As much co-use is being talked about now, it refers to infrastructure sharing between Internet and mobile service providers. Nepal Telecom started working as a mobile service provider in 2056. Then Ncell entered this field as a mobile service provider in 2061.
Thus, when various service providers started coming, the concept of infrastructure sharing started to arise only after 2071. Before that, there were not as many internet service providers as there are now. Nepal Telecom and Ncell were the only mobile service providers.
Regarding infrastructure sharing in Nepal Telecom, we have shared with all internet service providers. We are also using electricity authority poles. But we did not share optical fibers and dark fibers with rival companies.
Then Ncell built its own network in East West. So that there was no need for collaboration for some time. Later, when Internet service providers increased, only then did we start receiving requests for infrastructure sharing. We have now reached the position of sharing after completing the legal procedures.
Apart from that, the Nepal Telecommunication Authority has given us the task of building optical fiber infrastructure in all seven provinces in the east and west. Under that, we are currently working on optical fiber everywhere.
Now it is being said that many BTS towers are not shared. Two mobile service providers in Nepal have their own towers in different places. Nepal Telecom, being a government company, has not only gone to the town of profit. It has also reached the unprofitable rural areas.
Nepal Telecommunication Authority should also pay attention to such things while making policy. It is difficult for us to share the infrastructure due to the discriminatory behavior of going only to places where there is more income, and not going to places where there is no income. Telecom has reached a position of sharing its infrastructure with other providers.
