sDkgLsf ;]jfx?
1= :yflgo ^]lnkmf]g (PSTN) ;]jf
;g\ 1935 df 25 nfO{g Ifdtfsf] Automatic Telephone exchange sf] :yfkgf kZrft b]z leq cwf/e"t b';~rf/ ;]jfsf] ?kdf :yflgo ^]lnkmf]g ;]jf sf] z"?jft ePsf] xf] . cf=a= 2066÷067 sf] cGTo ;Dddf cfO{k"Ubf 583542 nfO{g ljt/)f ePsf]df 2067 kf}if d;fGt ;Dddf sl/a 6 nfv ;]jfu|flxx?n] k|ToIf ?kdf of] ;]jf pkef]u ul//x]sf %g .
b]zsf ;Dk')f{ uf=la=;=x? df cfwf/e"t b'/;~rf/ ;]jf 2067 ;fn c;f/ d;fGtleq b'/;+rf/ ;]jf k"Ug af¤sL /x]sf 199 uf=la=;= df ;d]t b'/;+rf/ ;]jf pknAw u/fpg] g]kfn ;/sf/sf] gLlt / nIo cg"?k sDkgLn] 29 c;f/ 2067 df ;]tL c~rnsf] afh"/f lhNnfsf] ;fk^fdf s" Aof)*sf] le:of^ ^ld{gn h*fg u/L b'/;+rf/ ;]jf k"ØfP kl% b]z e/sf ;Dk")f{ uf=la=;=x?df of] ;]jf pknAw ePsf] % . sDkgLn] b]zsf] s"gf sfKrf tyf clt b"u{d / las^ e'efudf ;d]t 152 j^f l; Aof)*sf] le:of^ ^ld{gnx? / 312 j^f s" Aof)*sf] le:of^ ^ld{gnx? h*fg u/L b]zsf] ;Dk')f{ uf=la=;=x?df b'/;+rf/ ;]jfsf] kx¤"r k"¥ofpgdf &'nf] e'ldsf lgaf{x u/]sf] % . b'/;+rf/ ;]jfsf] kx¤"rn] tL &fp¤x?sf] cfly{s, ;fdflhs, ;f:+s[lts tyf z}lIfs lasf;df ;d]t &'nf] of]ubfg k"¥ofPsf] % .
:yflgo ^]lnkmf]g ;]jf (PSTN) cGt{ut cfly{s aif{ 2066÷067 df ;]jf lj:tf/sf nlu ePsf yk pknlAwx? lgDg cg";f/ /x]sf %g\ .
blIf)f sf]l/ofaf^ slné sf*{ ;]jfsf] z"?jft
sDkgLn] blIf)f sf]l/ofdf a;f]af; ul//x]sf g]kfnLx?sf] ;x"lnotsf] nflu blIf)f sf]l/ofaf^ g]kfn sn ug]{ %"§} slné sf*{ ;]jfsf] z"?jft u/]sf] % . ;f] ;]jfsf] pb#f^g sDkgLsf cWoIf >L ;"lzn l#ld/]Ho'n] Ps ;df/f]xsf aLr 30 efb| 2067 df blIf)f sf]l/ofsf] l;of}ndf ug"{ePsf] lyof] . g]kfn ^]lnsd / sf]l/ofnL sDkgL Pn=l*=o'= Kn; ^]lnsd sDkgLsf] ;+o"Qm k|of;af^ sf]-a|f)*sf] pQm slné sf*{ ;]jfsf] z"?jft ul/P]sf] xf] . pQm slné sf*{ k|of]u u/L sf]l/ofaf^ g]kfn sn ubf{ k|lt ldg]^ ? 15 z"Ns nfUg] Aoj:yf ul/Psf] % . pQm ;]jfsf] z"?jftjf^ blIf)f sf]l/ofdf k(\g uPsf, #"Dg uPsf, sfd ug{ uPsf dhb'/x? tyf ljleGg Aoj;fodf ;+nUg g]kfnLx?nfO{ ;xof]u k"¥ofPsf] % .
g]kfn ^]lnsdsf] O{lhkmf]g
sDkgLn] >fj)f 16, 2067 af^ SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) df cfwfl/t IP sn ug]{ O{lhkmf]g a|f)*sf] klxnf] softphone Aoj;flos ?kdf ;+rfng df NofPsf] % . of] ;]jf k|of]u ubf{ cfkmgf] sDKo"^/nfO{ kmf]gsf] ?kdf k|of]u u/L O{G^/g]^sf] dfWodaf^ IP g^]js{ dfkm{t ;+;f/sf] h"g;"s} &fp¤df h"g;"s} a]nf ;:tf] b/df sn ug{ ;lsG% . xfn o; cGt{ut SIP PPP (Permanent Prepaid Phone) / SIP EasyCall (Prepaid Calling Card) u/L b"O{ k|sf/sf] O{lhkmf]g ;]jfx? pknAw /x]sf %g\ .
PS;]; sf]* 1424 dfkm{t ;:tf] b/df cGt/fli^«o sn ;]jf
g]kfn ^]lnsdn] 2067 h]i& 18 -1 h"g 2010_ af^ PS;]; sf]* 1424 dfkm{t ;fwf/)f ^]lnkmf]g, lh=P;=Pd df]afO{n tyf l;=l*=Pd=P= k|lalwsf kmf]gx?af^ klg l;w} ;:tf] b/df cGt/fli^«o sn ug]{ ;"lawf pknAw u/fPsf] % .
g]kfn ^]lnsdsf] gf]l^; af]*{ ;]jf
g]kfn ^]lnsdn] gf]l^; af]*{ ;]jf d+l;/ 11, 2065 ;fndf ;+rfngdf NofPsf] xf] . of] PSTN EjfO{; d]n cGt/utsf] Pp^f supplementary ;]jf xf] / o;df EjfO{; d]n jS;nfO{ gf]l^; jf*{sf] ?kdf k|of]u ug{ ;lsG% . of] ;]jf k|of]u u/L u|fxsn] cfkmgf] gf]l^; jf]*{df /fVg] ;"rgf/;Gb]zx? cfkm}+n] kmf]g dfkm{t /]s*{ u/L /fVg ;Sb%g\ / ;f] kmf]gdf sn ug]{ AolQmn] pQm ;'rgf ;"Gg ;Sb%g\ . of] ;]jf ;fwf/)f PSTN kmf]gsf u|fxsx?nfO{ dfq lgMz"Ns pknAw % .
xfn gf]l^; jf]*{ ;]jf w]/} k|rngdf cfO;s]sf] % . of] ;]jf laB"tsf] nf]* z]l*ésf] hfgsf/L lbg b]lv t/sf/Lsf] ahf/ efpsf] hfgsf/L lbg, :s'n, SofDk; tyf clkm;x?nfO{ cfkm\gf] ;'rgf lbg, Aofkf/Lx?nfO{ ahf/df pknAw cfkm\gf ;fdfgx?sf] hfgsf/L lbg, df};d ;DaGwL hfgsf/L lbg, jfo';]jf sDkgLx?nfO{ p*fg tflnsf ck*]^ ug{, ljlgdo b/ k|sflzt ug{, /flzkmn k|sflzt ug{, tfhf ;dfrf/ ;]jf pknAw u/fpg, cflbsf] nflu pkef]u ug{ ;lsG% .
@= lh=P;=Pd= df]afO{n ;]jf
o; sDkgLn] ldlt @)%^ j}zfv b]vL ;+rfngdf NofPsf] GSM df]afO{n ;]jfdf cf=a= @)^^÷)^& sf] cGTo ;Dddf cfO{k'Ubf !^#% j6f BTS dfkm{t #*,!#,&^^ u|fxsx?nfO{ df]afO{n ;]jf k|bfg ub}{ cfO{/x]sf]df ldlt @)^& d+l;/ d;fGt ;Dddf sDkgLsf] BTS tyf u|fxs ;+Vofdf j[l4 eO{ qmdzM !*!^ / $@,#*,&)# k'u]sf] 5 .
sDkgLn] cfˆgf df]afO{n ;]jfsf u|fxsx?nfO{ yk ;]jf ;'ljwfx? pknAw u/fpg] ;DaGwdf lgs6 eljiodf g} USSD, SMSC, OTAS nufotsf ;]jfx? ;+rfngdf Nofpgsf nflu cfjZos pks/0fx?sf] h8fg sfo{ ul//x]sf] 5 .
GSM df]jfO{n ;]jf tkm{sf ;]jf tyf ;'ljwfx?
-s_ kf]i6k]8 df]afO{n ;]jf (NTC Mobile
Ø EjfO{; sn (Voice Call)
Ø 5f]6f] ;Gb]z ;]jf (SMS)
Ø sn km/jfl8Ë (Call Forwarding)
Ø sn j]l6Ë (Call Waiting)
Ø sn xf]N8 (Call Hold)
Ø dlN6kf6L{ sGkm/]G; sn (Multiparty Conference Call)
Ø lh=lk=cf/=P;= (GPRS)
Ø dN6L ldl8of Dof;]h (MMS)
Ø ly|=hL= (3G)
Ø l;=cf/=la=6L= (CRBT)
Ø km]G8;\ P08 km]ldnL sn (FNF)
Ø ld:8\ sn cn6{ (MCA)
Ø cGt/fli6«o /f]ldË (International Roaming)
Ø EjfO{; d]n (Voice Mail)
Ø j]e P;=Pd=P;= (Web SMS)
Ø ;+:yfut k|of]ustf{ ;d"x (Corporate User Group)
-v_ lk|k]8 df]afO{n ;]jf (Namaste Mobile)
Ø EjfO{; sn (Voice Call)
Ø 5f]6f] ;Gb]z ;]jf (SMS)
Ø sn km/jfl8Ë (Call Forwarding)
Ø lh=lk=cf/=P;= (GPRS)
Ø dN6L ldl8of Dof;]h (MMS)
Ø ly|=hL= (3G)
Ø l;=cf/=la=6L= (CRBT)
Ø ld:8\ sn gf]6Llkms];g (MCA)
Ø EjfO{; d]n (Voice Mail)
Ø j]e P;=Pd=P;= (Web SMS)
-u_ 3G WCDMA
g]kfn ^]lnsdn] tLg jif{cl# z"? u/]sf] 3rd Generation sf] ;]jf xfd|f] pkef]Qmfx?sf nflu lgs} pkof]uL ePsf] kfOPsf] % . Video call, Live TV, High Speed Internet, On demand Video, Video chat nufot ljljw ;"ljwf ePsf of] ;]jf xfn sf&df)*f} pkTosf, ag]kf / kf]v/fdf ;+rflnt % . xfn ;Dd 3G ;]jf pkef]u ug]{ u|fxs ;+Vof 14 xhf/ k"lu ;s]sf] % . u|fxsx?sf] ;xh ;"ljwfsf nfuL klxn]b]lv g} k|of]u ub}{ cfPsf] Postpaid Mobile sf SIM nfO{ 3G ;]jfdf kl/jt{g ug{ rfx]df ?= 250 a"emfO{ gof¤ SIM kl/jt{g ug{ ;Sg] Joj:yf /x]sf] % . t/ ?= 1,000 eGbf a(L w/f}^L /x]sf k"/fgf Postpaid u|fxsx?sf] SIM lgM z"Ns kl/jt{g u/L 3G ;"ljwf pknAw u/fO{Psf] % .
-#_ VAS Services
xfn GSM df]afOnsf] d"Vo ;]jfsf] ?kdf voice /x+b} cfPsf]df Value Added Services cGtu{tsf ljljw ;]jfx? ;d]t ;+rfngdf /x]sf %g\ . Value Added Services cGtu{t ljleGg yk ;]jfx? h:t} MMS, CRBT, VMS(Voice Mail Service), Missed Call Alert, Recharge By SMS money Transfer for GSM prepaid users, getting news, weather forecast, horoscope by SMS, SMS chat, product and service promotion by SMS cfbL u|fxsx?sf] k|fyldstfdf /xL cfPsf %g\ .
-ª_ kf]i^k]* lh=P;=Pd= df]afO{n ;]jfdf s/kf]/]^ sg]Szg ckm/
g]kfn ^]lnsdn] sDkgLsf] kf]i^k]* lh=P;=Pd= df]afO{n ;]jfdf s/kf]/]^ sg]Szg ckm/ ;"lawf pknAw u/fPsf] %. of] ;"lawf pkef]u ug{ s"g} klg ;+#, ;+:yf tyf Aofkfl/s Pj+ cf}Bf]lus k|lti&fgsf 10 jf 10 eGbf a(L hgfsf] ;d'xn] ;fd"lxs ?kdf cfkmgf] sfof{nosf] l;kmfl/zdf sDkgLnfO{ ;]jfsf] nflu cg"/f]w u/]sf] v)*df To; ;d'xsf kf]i^k]* lh=P;=Pd= df]afO{n gDa/sf] dfl;s landf 10% %"^sf] Aoj:yf ul/Psf]% .
-r_ lh=P;=Pd= / l;=l*=Pd=P= df]afO{ndf af]g;sf] ;"lawf
sDkgLsf lh=P;=Pd= / l;=l*=Pd=P= df]afO{n u|fxsx?nfO{ efb| 01, 2067 b]lv df]afO{n l/hfh{ ubf{ af]g; lbg] ;"lawf pknAw u/fPsf] %, h; cg"?k s|dzM ?= 500 / ?= 1000 sf] l/hfh{ ubf{ u|fxsn] ?= 50 / ?= 100 sf] af]g; /sd cfkmgf] df]afO{ndf k|fKt ug{ ;Sb%g\ .
3= l;l*PdP ;]jf
CDMA ;]jfsf] a(\bf] nf]slk|otfnfO{ b[li^«ut u/L PSTN tyf GSM k|ljlwn] g;d]l^Psf If]qx?nfO{ ;d]^g] clek|fon] la=;+ 2061 ;fn b]lv z"? ePsf] of] ;]jf pkef]u ug]{ ;]jfu|lxx?sf] ;+Vof xfn ;Dd 1041227 k"u]sf] % . l;l*PdP ;]jf cGt{utsf] l; kmf]g tyf :sfO{ kmf]gdf u/L xfn ;Dd lgDgfg";f/sf ;]jfx? pknAw /x]sf %g .
Post paid:
· Voice call
· SMS
· VMS
· Call forwarding
· Call waiting
· PDSN Data
· Web SMS
Prepaid:
· Voice Call
· SMS
· VMS
· Call forwarding
· Call waiting
· EVDO Data
· PDSN Data
· Web SMS
lgs^ eljiodf SMS Based Value Added Services x? h:t} breaking news, FM & TV polling,games,traffic information, flight information, ringtone download,forex,weather,screen & wallpaper download,SMS chat,financial transaction through banks and financial institutes tyf IVR Based Voice Chat sf ;fy} Caller Ring Back Tone (CRBT) ;]jfx? k|bfg ug]{ tof/L eO{/x]sf] % .
4. ADSL tyf Internet ;]jf
sDkgLn] klxnf] k^s Broadband Internet sf] nflu ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) 2+ k|lalwdf cfwfl/t ;]jf 17 a}zfv, 128 KBps b]lv 2 MBps ;Ddsf] Data Speed pknAw x"g] pQm ;]jf dfl;s jf q}dfl;s Kofs]hx?df pknAw %g\ . ADSL ;]jf k|of]u ubf{ Ps}k^sdf (Voice) ^]lnkmf]g / (Data) O{G^/g]^ b"a} ;]jf ;+u;u}+ k|of]u ug{ ;lsG% . u|fxsn] cfkmgf] glhssf] ^]lnkmf]g PS;r]~haf^ pQm ;]jf lnO{ ;fwf/)f PSTN ^]lnkmf]g nfO{gdf ADSL Modem / Splitter hf]*L High Speed Internet ;]jfsf] pkef]u ug{ ;Sb%g\ .
k|yd r/)f cGtu{t sf&df*f}+ pkTosfsf laleGg 34 j^f ^]lnkmf]g PS;r]~hx?af^ z"? ul/Psf] pQm ;]jf xfn sf&df*f}+ pkTosf aflx/ klg Aofks ?kdf la:tf/ eO{ 75 j^} lhNnfx?df k"lu;s]sf] % . of] ;]jfdf xfn;Dd 1,50,000 u|fxs Ifdtfsf] l;i^d h*fg sfo{ ;DkGg eO{;s]sf] % eg]] ;]jfu|xLsf] ;+Vof 72,297 k"lusf] % . of] ;]jfdf 16 h]i& 2067 b]lv Volume Based ADSL ;]jf ;d]t pknAw /x]sf] % .
o;} ul/ cfwf/e"t ^]lnkmf]g dfkm{t ;~rfng x"g] Dialup internet service lng]sf] ;+Vof 7025 /x]sf] % . ;fy} sDkgLsf] CDMA k|lalwsf] ^]lnkmf]gx? dfkm{t O{G^/g]^ k|of]u ug]{ u|fxs ;+Vof 76604 tyf GSM df]jfO{n dfkm{t GPRS ;"ljwf k|of]u ug]{ u|fxssf] ;+Vof 423919 /x]sf] % .
5. u|fld)f b'/;~rf/ ;]jf
sDkgLn] Microwave tyf Optical Link af^ ^«fG;ldzg k'jf{wf/ gk"u]sf ljs^ tyf b'u{d uf=la=;=x?df ^]lnkmf]g ;]jf k"¥ofpg Satellite k|ljlwdf cfwfl/t ;]jf tyf CDMA / GSM ;]jf la:tf/sf] k'jf{wf/sf nflu lj:tfl/t Rural Telecommunication ;]jf k|bfg ub}{ cfPsf] % h; cGt{ut rfn" cly{ aif{df 150 j^f VSAT h*fg u/L las^ If]qx?df ;]jf la:tf/ ug{], u|fld)f If]qdf GSM tyf CDMA ;]jf k"¥ofpg / k'j{ -klZrd /fhdfu{, sf&df)*f} kf]v/f / la/f^gu/ wgs"§fdf g]^js{ se/]h k"¥ofpg 70 j^f VSAT (backhaul) h*fg ug{] sfo{qmdx? ;~rfng ul/g] ePsf] % .
6= ;'rgf k|ljlwsf] lasf; tyf vf]h tyf cg";Gwfg ;DalGw sfo{x?
sDkgLsf]sf] cfGtl/s Joj:yfkg tyf lqmofsnfknfO{ r":t t"Nofpg / u|fxs ;]jf ;DalGw lqmofsnfknfO{ cTofw"lgs k|ljlw dfkm{t Aojl:yt t"NofO{ ;j{;"ne tyf l%^f] %l/tf] ;]jf pknAw u/fpg Enterprises Resource Planning (ERP) sf] sfof{Gjog eO{/x]sf] % . sDkgLn] k|bfg ul//x]sf ljleGg ;]jfx?sf] ljlnª ;djlGw sfo{nfO{ ;xh t"Nofpg Convergent Real Time Billing & Customer support System, ;~rfngdf Nofpg] tof/L eO{/x]sf] % eg] /fhZj cg"udg cflb k|s[ofnfO{ Aojl:yt ug{ Revenue Assurance,Fraud Management,Business Intelligence h:tf ;]jfx? ;~rfngdf Nofpg] tof/L eO{/x]sf] %
;|f]t M aflif{s k|ltj]bg, 2067
LDCs
do not generally have sufficient and developed human resources in all
sectors, like telecommunications, technology etc. They may not be able
to comply withWTO provisions and compete with other member states. Apart
from the local level difficulties there are some global level
difference in policy and approaches of regulation. These can be
summarized as below: WTO service classification is changing due to the
changes of technology. S0, WTO service sectoral
There are so many institutional requirements under WTO agreement, which may not be fulfilled by the member states in time.
The
governments of LDCs may need to change national policies time and again
by various reasons but after accession toWTOthere will be little room
for flexibility for such policy changes.
;|f]t M aflif{s k|ltj]bg, 2067
Nepal’s Telecom Sector Challenges Under WTO Rules
Kailash Prasad Neupane
Kailash Prasad Neupane
Deputy Director of Legal Services,
Nepal
Telecommunications Authority Nepal, situated along the southern slopes
of the Himalayan mountain ranges, is a landlocked country, situated
between India and China. Nepal occupies an area of 147,181 square
kilometres and has about 27 million inhabitants. Topographically Nepal
is divided into three regions: the mountain, hill and the terrace
regions. About 83 percent of the country is rugged terrain and only 17
percent is flat land. Administratively the country is divided into five
development regions, 14 zones, 75 districts 58 Municipalities and 3,915
Village Development Committees (VDC). EachVDC is divided into 9 wards
and municipalities into 9 to 35 wards. However a new constitution is
being drafted that will determine its federal structure. Since it is
very difficult and costly to build transportation infrastructures due to
the rugged terrain, telecommunications services are of utmost
importance for Nepal to serve the rural population. With the approach of
the twenty-first century, it is realised that economic, social and
cultural boundaries are
disappearing.
In this process, the movement of people and the trade of goods and
services are dependent in Information and Communications Technology
(ICT) that is based on telecommunications services. Thus exchange of
information is a crucial fact.
1. Telecom Sector Liberalization in Nepal
After
the restoration of the multi-party democracy in 1990, Government of
Nepal adopted a liberalization policy in communications sector by the
formulation of National Communication Policy 1992. In pursuant to the
liberalization policy, Government has decided to expedite the
development of telecommunication services through private sector
investments gradually. As result of such policy, telecom legislations
were introduced.
The
Telecommunications Act, 2053 (1997), Telecommunications Regulations,
2054 (1997), Long Term Vision of Communication Sector, 2002 and
Telecommunications Policy 2004 are the main legal and policy framework
of telecommunications services in Nepal. Nepal Telecommunications
Authority (NTA), separate regulatory body of Nepal in telecom sector has
been constituted under the Telecom Act in order to make telecom service
available throughout the country in a competitive manner and regulate
the sector.
2. Status of Telecom Sector in Nepal
At
present, the incumbent operator, Nepal Doorsanchar Company Limited
(NDCL) the than Nepal Telecommunications Corporation (NTC) is operating
local, domestic, long distance, international telephony, cellular mobile
and internet service including ADSL in Nepal. Besides NDCL the
regulatory authority, Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) has issued
one Mobile1 licence, two Basic2 and 2 rural3 telecom ser-vice licence
to private telecommunications operators. 4 Nepal is committed to
improving telecommunications services and efficiency through competition
and effective regulation of the telecommunication sectors. The current
number of licenses in various telecom services and status of the sector
is stipulated in the Annex-1 and Annex-2 respectively.
3. Nepal in the WTO
Nepal
had applied for the membership of the GATT, 1947, the predecessor
institution of WTO in 1989. Nepal obtained only an observer status in
1993. In 1997, Nepal converted its application for accession to the GATT
to an application for membership to the WTO. In 1998, in accordance
with WTO accession procedures, Nepal submitted a Memorandum of Foreign
Trade Regime for circulation to all of the member states. A direct
question and answer period between member states and the Nepalese
Government followed until 1999. After the establishment of WTO in 1995,
Nepal again applied to WTO secretariat in order to join the global
village. Nepal had participated in a series of bilateral and working
party meet with WTO
member
states. Protocol of Accession of Nepal was adopted in the 5thWTO
Ministerial Conference held at Cancun, Mexico on 11 September 2003.
Nepal became 147th member state and the first LDC member to the WTO by
negotiation since 23 April, 2004. Nepal has commitment in 11 sectors and
70 subsectors on services including telecommunications services with
conditions of:
(1)
Incorporation of company in Nepal in accordance with Nepalese law is
required and foreign equity participation ceiling is up to 80 per
cent through joint venture.
(2)
Intra corporate transferee is allowed up to 15% of total local
employees as manager/executive/ specialist, maximum up to 10 years
staying in Nepal;
(3) Membership of relevant professional organization is needed to serve in such professional service in Nepal etc.
Nepal
had already opened up telecom sector for private and foreign investment
before becoming member of WTO. After being member of WTO and scheduling
the telecommunications service as specific commitment
in
its protocol of accession, the subject became a multilateral agreement
and global issue. Obviously, Nepal has agreed to abide by its obligation
through the agreement. Nepal also agreed to adopt the
Telecommunications Reference Paper in addition to the specific
commitments. Now Nepal is obliged to create an environment for the
development of institutional arrangements as stipulated in the Reference
Paper.
4. Nepal’s Commitment on Telecommunication
Sector
in the WTO While Nepal submitted its application to the WTO there was a
list of a few sectors for opening up. After the working party and
bilateral meet the list of services for opening up for the WTO provision
was increased. Many member states advised to open telecommunications
services too. So, Nepal submitted its telecommunication services in line
with the then Telecom Policy,1999. The telecommunications services
proposed by Nepal to the WTO and adopted by the member states ofWTO are
as follows:
1. Basic Telephone Service
a. Local telephone service
b. Domestic telephone service
c. International telephone service
d. Telex service
e. Domestic and international telegraph services
2. Mobile Telephone Service
3. Value Added Services of Telecommunications
a. Internet including e-mail
b. E-mail
c. Voice Mail
d. Video text
e. Fax Mail
f. VSAT
g. Audio Conference
h. Pay Phone
i. Pre-paid Calling Card
j. Local, Long Distance and International Data Communication
k. Radio Paging
l. Trunk Mobile.
210
E-Government Developments, The Protocol of Accession states that ‘No
limitation on number of service providers will exist by January 2009’.
Commercial presence, one mode of service trade rule is accepted and
foreign equity participation through joint venture is opened up to 80
percent. In all above mentioned telecommunication services for terms of
Limitation of Market Access and on Mode of Supply
(1)
Cross-Border Supply (mode 1) and (2) Consumption abroad (mode 2) are
fully committed. These two modes have been specified indicating the word
‘None’ in the Nepal’s service commitment schedule. Mode(3) Commercial
Presence is permitted with completing some conditions as indicated in
the Horizontal commitment. The commitment indicates ‘None, except as
indicated in horizontal commitment’. In mode (4) Presence of Natural
Presence, indicates the same language i.e. ‘None except as indicated in
the Horizontal commitment’. So Nepal has no full commitment in modes 3
and 4. The schedule states None, except. . . ,
and
Unbound, except. . . , in the column ‘Limitation on Market Access’,
respectively. Nepal has committed itself for ‘Limitation on Market
Access’ for Basic Telecommunication Services that is opened the market
from 1st January 2009 and number of services providers is unlimited from
2009 onwards. Foreign equity participation through joint venture with
up to 80 per cent is legally recognized. Foreign nationals can enter
into Nepal to work as consultant, only in that area which is not
available in Nepal for 90 days. On the column of Limitations on National
Treatment, Nepal states that the majority of the members of the Board
of Directors of a joint venture should be Nepalese Nationals. Nepal’s
schedule on telecommunications services undertakes additional
commitments in the Telecommunications References Paper as specific
commitments. The Reference Paper also adds some extra burden to Nepal.
The Telecommunications Reference Paper states for
1) Competitive safeguards
2) Interconnection
3) Universal service
4) Public availability of licensing criteria
5) Independent Regulators and
6) Allocation and use of scarce resources.
5). Challenges
After
accession into WTO and commitment on telecom services arises some
policy level and functional challenges for Least Developed Countries
(LDCs) like Nepal. These may be indicated as follows:
–
LDCs would not have done enough research due to constraints of budget
and skill manpower. So, LDCs like Nepal may not be able to identify
sectors of competitive advantage. But they are forced to commit in the
name of harmonization between member country legislation to become
member of WTO.
–
–
–
classification
list MNT. GNS/W/120 of 10 July 1991 is different from the present one.
Under the WTO classification, telecom services are dividing in to two
broad categories.
(1) Basic Telecommunications Services, voice telephone service, telex, telegraph, mobile telephone service etc and
(2)
Value Added Telecommunications Services. Mobile telecom is included in
the Basic telecom services. But the original classification MNT
GNS/W/120 is not been changed. This is the reason why Nepal still
differentiates between Basic and Mobile services. There are some
regulatory issues under the mode of supply formula. It is difficult to
regulate under such
formula
due to changing nature of the service, development of ICT technology
and convergence. Here are some findings of such difficulties, such as;
–
Regulatory regime is not often mode-specific.
–
Supply of services comes under multiple regulatory regimes.
–
Physical
distance between regulators and suppliers creates problem in the part
of enforcement of regulations and Jurisdictional issues
–
–
Restriction on means of supply (VOIP is not opened by all countries.)Data privacy/protection laws/regulations are not introduced
in most of the LDCs. Thus legal remedies may not be available and if
available would be different from countries to countries.
–
6. Hence the following questions should be discussed and addressed by each member countries
–
Are mode-specific regulatory disciplines applicable and necessary for Telecommunications Trade in the convergence era?
–
Is
it technically feasible to regulate cross-border services? Whereas
consumption abroad, like ILD call, prepaid calling card, GMPCS are
difficult to enforce regulatory measures from originating state?
–
Are there differences between Mode 1 and Mode 2?
–
Is
it necessary for cross-border services to be subject to the same
regulatory requirements and standards as applied to services supplied
domestically?
–
So, if regulated separately those services could raise regulatory ambiguity?
On-line
information and/or data processing CPC 843 (including transaction
processing) is listed under telecommunication services and the same CPC
code is stipulated for data-processing services, (CPC 843) under
Computer and related services.
–
7. Conclusion
How uncertainty in regulation due to convergence of broadcast, telecommunications and ICT can be minimized? Problems
on definition of Computer and related services could create possible
overlap between telecommunication services and computer services
All
the commitments made by LDCs may not be fulfilled in time. Further
more; technology may not be in status quo situation. The rapid
development of technology and use of ICT always demands advanced forms
of the technology. Telecom, broadcasting and ICT convergence in
technological and regulatory aspects were not perceived at the time of
NGBT/GBT. Now, convergence has been taken place and the 21st century
grossly demanded such convergence. Thus,WTO trade rule on converged
nature services like Broadcasting, Telecommunications, and ICT has to be
reviewed and recommend to the ITU and WTO in this matter. Exchange of
knowledge and regulatory experience sharing would help LDCs to address
the challenges in a more uniform and holistic manner.
