The government has started preparations to prevent internet service provider companies from importing international bandwidth. The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology is going to form a committee to ensure that internet service providers cannot continue to be in the role of importing bandwidth.
Communication Minister Rekha Sharma formed a committee under the coordination of Joint Secretary Gaurav Giri to study the possibility of a bandwidth platform (international internet gateway) in Nepal when she assumed office for the second time on February 23. Based on the report submitted by the committee, Minister Sharma has indicated that she is going to take a strict policy on internet service providers.
While understanding the report, Minister Sharma said that although the management of international bandwidth is important in Nepal, the committee was formed because there was no necessary study on it. She also informed that instructions will be given to the relevant agencies to proceed with the process for the work that can be done immediately based on the suggestions given in the report and to make necessary laws on other issues.
According to the existing law, the same person and organization have obtained the license of both the network service provider and the internet service provider. But the study committee has concluded that it is difficult to create an environment where the market competes on the same level. Also, it has been pointed out that there is a possibility of paying less revenue to the government by increasing the international internet bandwidth purchase price.
“Because there is no check and balance between the network service provider and the internet service provider, it seems that there is no consistency in the internet tariff and quality paid by the customers in the market,” the study committee said in its report, “Therefore, to prepare a clean competitive environment (Level Playing Field) between the internet service providers, a single organization should be networked.” There is an urgent need to make arrangements so that the service provider and the internet service provider do not play a dual role.”
At present, there are 23 companies that have obtained the license of network service providers to import international bandwidth of the Internet in Nepal. As some buy less and some buy more bandwidth, the price per Mbps also varies according to the amount of bandwidth. In addition, the report mentions that there is no guarantee of the minimum quality of service provided by service providers who import large amounts of Internet bandwidth and service providers who import low amounts of Internet bandwidth.
“Therefore, in accordance with the principle of economics of scale, it is deemed necessary to make appropriate decisions in consultation with the relevant stakeholders regarding the reduction of the price of international bandwidth, the reduction of foreign exchange going out of Nepal and the right to import at least 500 Gbps bandwidth in the current situation to ensure quality internet service. ” the report further states.
Can’t buy more than 60 percent bandwidth from a single upstream provider!
The committee has put forward the argument that the network service provider should purchase international bandwidth from at least two vendors in order to prevent internet service from being interrupted within the country. “In this way, when purchasing bandwidth, it seems appropriate to not purchase more than 60 percent from one vendor, and to import the bandwidth from different ports when importing it to Nepal,” the report suggested.
Similarly, the committee also emphasized that the network service provider must obtain mandatory prior approval from the Nepal Telecommunication Authority before entering into an international bandwidth purchase agreement.
A suggestion to study the topic of content filtering
The committee has suggested that more study should be done on Content Filtering in Nepal.
The committee said that in order to properly manage network traffic coming from outside, to efficiently and safely flow data packets to other countries, to regulate and monitor data privacy, relevance, cyber security and other issues, the committee said that such a mechanism should be studied.
It is also said that it would be appropriate to study more about the policy, legal and structural arrangements required for that work. In addition, since it is a matter related to the privacy of citizens, the committee also suggested that it would be appropriate to arrange for the international Internet management system to be subordinated to the Government of Nepal.
In this context, the report of the committee has mentioned that in the context of Nepal, it is necessary to conduct a more detailed study on the international internet management system’s detailed framework, installation and operation modality, policy, legal and structural arrangements, etc.