Government gears up for introduction of WiMax
KATHMANDU, MAY 23 -
The government has started work on frequency management to introduce the worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMax) technology in the country and better manage spectrum provided to telecom operators. A meeting of the Radio Frequency Policy Determination Committee held after two-and-a-half years on Friday discussed spectrum affairs.
The committee formed under the Nepal Telecommunications Act-1997 headed by the Minister for Information and Communication (MoIC) gives a framework for spectrum management, including allocation, pricing and assignment criteria for service providers. Other members of the committee include secretaries of MoIC, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation and Defense Ministry. Following the discussion of the committee, chances of introduction the new technology has increased. The meeting also conferred on increasing annual charge for the extra frequency being used by Nepal Telecom
and Ncell. “Through the meeting, we have been able to inform the committee about our recommendations on WiMax and redistribution of mobile frequency,” said Bhesh Raj Kanel, chairman of the Nepal Telecommunications Authority and a member of the committee. He said WiMax based services can be introduced after the committee decides on frequency allocation to the technology.
WiMAX is a telecommunications technology that provides fixed and fully mobile internet access and voice service. It allows service providers—telecom operators or internet service providers—to offer high-speed data service in urban as well as rural areas where laying of optical fibres are expensive or almost impossible. If the committee approves the recommendations made by the authority, it will help the authority manage frequencies in a planned manner, increase revenue for the government and open the door to new operators, according to the authority.
By setting aside 2.3 GHz and 3.3 GHz bandwidth for the WiMax technology, the authority had recommended the committee to determine frequency for introducing WiMax and increase five-fold the charge for additional frequencies used by telecom operators. However, the work on this front had been stalled following the resignation of then Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and political changes thereafter.
Last time, the meeting of the committee was held during the tenure of Krishna Bahadur Mahara as communications minister two-and-a-half years ago. Then, Shankar Pokhrel became the minister, but no meeting of the committee was held.
According to the authority, the committee will hold further discussions and come up with a decision on frequency allocation, pricing for the extra spectrum being occupied by operators and spectrum for 3G. It has also urged the committee to slash charges for the frequency being used for offering telecom service in rural areas.
As per the existing rules, the authority charges telecom operators Rs 14 million per MHz. Nepal Telecom and Ncell are using additional frequencies of 8.4 MHz and 4 MHz, respectively.
However, the committee on Friday’s meeting did not discussed issues related to 4G service and spectrum for it. The authority is carrying out study on 4G service.
“We will recommend the committee for the allocation of spectrum for 4G only based on the report of the study,” said Kanel.
Source : Kantipur
The government has started work on frequency management to introduce the worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMax) technology in the country and better manage spectrum provided to telecom operators. A meeting of the Radio Frequency Policy Determination Committee held after two-and-a-half years on Friday discussed spectrum affairs.
The committee formed under the Nepal Telecommunications Act-1997 headed by the Minister for Information and Communication (MoIC) gives a framework for spectrum management, including allocation, pricing and assignment criteria for service providers. Other members of the committee include secretaries of MoIC, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation and Defense Ministry. Following the discussion of the committee, chances of introduction the new technology has increased. The meeting also conferred on increasing annual charge for the extra frequency being used by Nepal Telecom
and Ncell. “Through the meeting, we have been able to inform the committee about our recommendations on WiMax and redistribution of mobile frequency,” said Bhesh Raj Kanel, chairman of the Nepal Telecommunications Authority and a member of the committee. He said WiMax based services can be introduced after the committee decides on frequency allocation to the technology.
WiMAX is a telecommunications technology that provides fixed and fully mobile internet access and voice service. It allows service providers—telecom operators or internet service providers—to offer high-speed data service in urban as well as rural areas where laying of optical fibres are expensive or almost impossible. If the committee approves the recommendations made by the authority, it will help the authority manage frequencies in a planned manner, increase revenue for the government and open the door to new operators, according to the authority.
By setting aside 2.3 GHz and 3.3 GHz bandwidth for the WiMax technology, the authority had recommended the committee to determine frequency for introducing WiMax and increase five-fold the charge for additional frequencies used by telecom operators. However, the work on this front had been stalled following the resignation of then Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and political changes thereafter.
Last time, the meeting of the committee was held during the tenure of Krishna Bahadur Mahara as communications minister two-and-a-half years ago. Then, Shankar Pokhrel became the minister, but no meeting of the committee was held.
According to the authority, the committee will hold further discussions and come up with a decision on frequency allocation, pricing for the extra spectrum being occupied by operators and spectrum for 3G. It has also urged the committee to slash charges for the frequency being used for offering telecom service in rural areas.
As per the existing rules, the authority charges telecom operators Rs 14 million per MHz. Nepal Telecom and Ncell are using additional frequencies of 8.4 MHz and 4 MHz, respectively.
However, the committee on Friday’s meeting did not discussed issues related to 4G service and spectrum for it. The authority is carrying out study on 4G service.
“We will recommend the committee for the allocation of spectrum for 4G only based on the report of the study,” said Kanel.
Source : Kantipur
