Telecom regulator takes action against two ISPs
KATHMANDU, APR 06 -
The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has taken action against two internet service providers (ISP) and three other companies providing data service illegally. The NTA has scrapped the operating license of Surfin and slapped a penalty of Rs 5,000 on Astha Networks.
Surfin was found to be operating an illegal voice over internet protocol (VoIP) call bypass service. It had also lent its license to another company named Airwave to operate ISP business, said the NTA.
In a similar case of misuse of the license, Astha Networks had allowed Manandhar Suppliers and ICN, two companies based in Dolakha, to run internet service.
“We have scrapped the license of Surfin and slapped a Rs 100,000 fine on Airwave for operating the service without obtaining a license,” said NTA spokesperson Kailash Prasad Neupane. He added that Manandhar Suppliers and ICN had been fined Rs 10,000 each and their services terminated.
Surfin had not transferred its license to Airwave to legally allow it to operate as an ISP. However, Airwave has been claiming that it operated the service only after merging with Surfin.
As per the law, if an ISP wants to sell its license, it has to file a joint application with the potential buyer to the NTA stating the reason for the sale and pay a fee to get its permission. NTA officials said that when companies merge or an ISP sells its license to another, the regulator has to be informed and due procedure followed.
Meanwhile, the NTA is preparing to take action against two other ISPs — Global Internet Services and Netplus Technology — that were found to be involved in VoIP call bypass causing a huge loss to telecom operators and the government. Based on the nature of the crime, the NTA can scrap the operating license of the two companies, said NTA officials.
The NTA can annul the licenses of ISPs besides imposing a fine equivalent to the amount of loss caused by their illegal activities as per the provision in Telecommunication Act.
The regulator has been working on a guideline to determine the amount of loss caused by illegal VoIP operators too. “The guideline will help the regulator to determine the loss and take action accordingly,” said Neupane.
Source: Kantipur
