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Manohar K Bhattarai

Snr Advisor, Computer Association of Nepal

manohar_kb@wlink.com.np

NEPAL:

Broadband Internetinfrastructure and international connectivity: status and future plan

Presentation Summary

�Nepal's ICT scenario

�Regional connectivity

�Issues and conclusion

Vital Stats:

� Around 15 000. sq.

km. in size

(15%snow-cover, 68%

mountain, and 17%

plain )

� Popln 27.47 million

Nepal's ICT scenario

.. Ever increasing telecom penetration..

- 92.68 %, Predominantly mobile, only 3.19 fixed

- Internet penetration: 33.15%, predominantly wireless-

(GPRS,EDGE,WCDMA CDMA 1X, EVDO , 4G WiMAX IEEE 802.16e 18 hotspots)

- Adoption of wireless broadband on the rise

- Mobile predominantly a device of choice>> fostering

innovation, creating value..

� Increasing level of eReadiness

› Telecom penetration >> mobile 3G

› Enhanced pace of ICT uptake across agencies

• eGovernment initiative underway

• Cloud computing/ shared infrastructure

• Increasing volume of local content

Nepal's ICT scenario...

� IT Policy

� Electronic Transaction Act

� Nepal Telecom Act and Regulations

Current Status

(Policy, legal and regulatory framework)

� Wireless broadband masterplan rolled out

– economic and social importance of broadband and its role in improving productivity and providing information and services;

– structure of the telecommunications market and the current regulatory framework;

– broadband access targets and future spectrum requirements;

– examining the case for regulatory change including amendments to the Radio Act 1957 as well as the current applicable licencing regime; and

– key technologies, including GSM, W-CDMA, WiMAX, satellite and LTE.

– All districts to be covered by FO backbone by 2015

Some key milestones....

� Broadband penetration

– International connectivity – room for improvement (25+Gbps)

– Affordability and availability >> high IP transit costs (45-50 US$/Mbits), 17.8% of GNI/P (cf 1.7% monthly income in developed nations) for basic, entry level fixed BB conn

– Regulatory issues

• Unified licensing

• Overall investment climate

• Spectrum management

– eg. Sound spectrum management policy and planning, including road maps for transition from analog to digital broadcasting

� Geographical determinism

• Landlocked country

Challenges remain....

Initiatives in the area of regional connectivity...

The broader SASEC IH frameworkThe broader SASEC IH framework

I ) a SASEC regional network with fiber-optic and data interchange capacity, directly connecting the four SASEC countries;

II) a SASEC village network expanding

broadband ICT access to 110 rural

communities in the SASEC countries; and

III) a SASEC research and training network

to build technical and business skills in

developing local ICT content and e-

applications

Issues/Conclusion

� Need to improve international connectivity and secure

– Supply side policy measures to accelerate BB deployment

– legal and regulatory reforms that establish an effective

interconnection/open access regime

– lowered International transit costs, enhanced

redundancy

� Gearing broadband towards policy outcomes

– Content and services aligned with development imperatives

– Promote innovation – cloud and mobile computing space

Issues/Conclusion

� Promote open access regime: fixed and mob acc n/w, backbone

and backhaul n/w, undersea cable and IXPs

– Foster facilties based competition and

infra sharing

� Promote infrastructural synergies and expand frontier of commercial

viability

� Need to strengthen regional connectivity and integration

– Expedite SASEC initiative

� Enhnace readiness to be an effective partner in Asian Info

Highway Initiative

� Promote PPP >> best practices...

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Thank you