Telecommunication infrastructure sharing regulations passed, maybe the internet is cheaper?
The Telecommunication Authority of Nepal (TAN) has approved the Regulation 2078 on Co-use of Telecommunication Infrastructure and Determination of Charges. The NEA board meeting held on July 12 approved the regulations.
Telecommunication services are expected to become cheaper as soon as the regulations on co-use of telecommunication infrastructure and fixing of tariffs are introduced. At the same time, telecom and internet service providers will no longer have to double-invest in infrastructure.
The regulation stipulates that service providers must make their telecommunications infrastructure available for use on a first-come, first-served basis without discrimination.
The co-user will have to use the telecommunication infrastructure available for co-use within 3 months. If it cannot be used within three months, the agreement related to the joint use of the telecommunication infrastructure will end, it is mentioned in the regulations.
Provision has been made for the service provider who owns the telecommunication infrastructure to prohibit the request for co-use received from other service providers or to delay the negotiation, agreement or work in any way.
Persons licensed to operate telecommunication services will be allowed to use telecommunication infrastructure only within the area / site related to their license.
According to the regulations, any two or more telecommunication service providers may use the telecommunication infrastructure by mutual consent.
All parties to the agreement must provide information to the NEA within 15 days of the agreement.
If any service provider does not allow other service providers to re-use the telecommunications infrastructure they have taken from the infrastructure service provider for co-use, the regulations state.
At the end of the agreement, one party to the agreement must give 3 months’ notice to the other party. Telecommunication infrastructure co-use fee should be within the maximum limit mentioned in the regulations.
The details of the fee for co-use of telecommunication infrastructure provided by any service provider for co-use should be made available by the authority if requested.
Each service provider will have to publish on the website the details of the telecommunication infrastructure provided for the shared use of the telecommunication infrastructure. An application will have to be submitted to NEA in the prescribed format for infrastructure sharing.
This is the maximum limit of the fee
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