Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has launched an invitation for application to build a district optical fiber network and provide optical network lease connectivity services in Province no. 6 and 7. NTA is collecting two percent of gross adjusted revenue as a Rural Telecommunication Development Fund (RTDF) every year from service providers in telecommunications sector as per the Telecommunication Act. The regulator intends to use part of the RTDF to cover eligible financial subsidy to the selected ISP licensee(s) for this project.
The project winner will have to build a district optical fiber network from Musikot (Rukum) to Jhulaghat (Darchula) by installing information superhighway on Midhill Highway and provide optical network lease connectivity services for the development of telecommunications service in 19 districts of province no. 6 & 7 of Nepal.
NTA invites Requests for Applications (RFA) for the award of the contract from existing NTA licensees (basic, mobile and network service providers), individually or in their joint venture/consortium to build district optical fiber network and provide optical network lease connectivity services within the next four years. NTA will provide subsidies to the successful applicant from RTDF to connect 19 district headquarters. Applications will be opened in presence of applicants' representatives on 26 February.
Source: https://www.telecompaper.com/news/nepal-launches-district-optical-fiber-network-project--1179410
