Telcos to support in rehabilitation and reconstruction

KATHMANDU:

The country’s two major telecom companies have vowed to support the government in rehabilitation of the affected population and reconstruction of the damaged structures caused by the devastating earthquake of April 25. Both Nepal Telecom (NT) and Ncell have separately expressed their commitments in this regard.

On Monday, Minister for Information and Communications Minendra Rijal said that Ncell proposed to provide relief support of Rs 100 million and Rs one billion for reconstruction, which would be used within three years.

Erim Taylanlar, CEO of Ncell, said today that TeliaSonera and Ncell have already informed the prime minister that TeliaSonera had committed to provide $1 million and Rs one billion from Ncell to rebuild the country.

Even as Ncell made the promise of the support, there has been no decision so far on how the fund would be utilised. “No decision has been taken so far as to where the money will go or how it will be utilised,” said Taylanlar. He added that TeliaSonera and Ncell would have a long-term focus on Nepal and exactly how the funds are best used is something that will be

discussed with both local and international expertise.

As per Taylanlar, TeliaSonera employees are also gathering funds and the company will double the collected amount. So far, employees have collected $40,000.

In a bid to support rehabilitation of people displaced and reconstruction of physical infrastructure, NT has tabled a proposal to its board, which is headed by Suman Bahadur Majja, secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communications. A high level official at NT said they would contribute at least Rs 150 million to Rs 200 million in the rehabilitation and reconstruction initiatives of the government.

“As the board meeting could not convene today, we might come up with a decision tomorrow to support the earthquake-hit people,” said Buddhi Acharya, managing director of NT.

He said that as the company was socially responsible, they had provided free service earlier and now their assistance would focus on rebuilding the damaged structures.

NT had made its voice, text and data service free in GSM and CDMA mobile for five days from April 25 to help in emergency communication.

Similarly, Ncell has been providing daily 50 SMS and Rs 30 bonus balance to each customer every day as support in communication.

Last year too, Ncell and NT had contributed Rs 200 million and Rs 20 million, respectively, in the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund to support people who were affected due to the landslide in Sindhupalchowk district.

Meanwhile, TeliaSonera in a statement today, said that it would shift Ncell Head Office to a new location in Kathmandu. The decision was taken after Krishna Tower in New Baneshwor, where the head office of Ncell is located, developed several cracks due to the earthquake.

Until now, Ncell’s temporary head office has been situated to Ekantakuna, Lalitpur.

Source: THT