Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung Urges Nepal Telecom to Improve Performance
Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, has urged Nepal Telecom to review its performance and improve its business operations. Speaking at Nepal Telecom’s 21st anniversary event today, Minister Gurung pointed out that the company’s income has been decreasing while private telecom companies continue to grow. He said Nepal Telecom must make necessary changes to stay competitive in the market.
As a state-owned company, Nepal Telecom has been a source of pride. However, it cannot keep up with the competition at its current pace. If we don’t take the right steps now, we may regret it later, he warned.
The minister advised Nepal Telecom to use advanced technology and expand its services to compete with private companies. He also suggested that at least 25% of the company’s shares should be owned by the public to ensure transparency and accountability.
E-governance is an important part of good governance. To achieve this, 4G services must be available in every village. If we can do this, the telecom sector will see huge growth, he added.
Minister Gurung also noted that telecom towers in rural areas still face challenges and urged Nepal Telecom to improve the quality of its services. He further pointed out that Nepal Telecom’s presence in the densely populated Tarai region is still weak. He directed officials to build better infrastructure to ensure uninterrupted services there.
During the event, the minister also spoke about a bill in parliament aimed at regulating social media. He mentioned that the government is working on updating laws related to communications, information, and technology to make Nepal an IT hub.
Meanwhile, Ministry Secretary and Nepal Telecom Chairperson Radhika Aryal called on all stakeholders to support the government’s efforts to expand digital services nationwide.
