NT projects distribution of 3 hundred thousands Prepaid within 4 months

Nepal Telecom (NT) has projected the distribution of three hundred thousands prepaid mobile phones within coming four months in Kathmandu valley.

NT worked out the plan to distribute Prepaid SIM following extensive pressure from consumers, trade unions and employees of telecom. NT so far is unable to distribute Prepaid SIM to the waiting lists too.

According to NT, it will distribute 3 hundred thousands of SIM in Kathmandu valley in first phase and is working out to distribute additional 6 hundred thousands of SIM throughout the country including the valley within eight or nine months.

Similarly, it has projected the distribution of 3.5 million of lines. An NT official said nine hundred thousands Prepaid SIM would be distributed within nine months to the applicants of the waiting lists and new prior to distributing 3.5 millions of lines.

The official also informed NT was preparing to announce the global tender for the distribution of 3.5 millions of lines. According to him, the plan to distribute nine hundred millions of lines in the first phase was the alternative to reduced high demands prior to distributing more lines following lengthy practical and policy level procedure.

Currently, GSM cellular mobile is under operation in nine hundred frequency and 18 hundred frequency will also come under operation within a month. According to the officials, the extension of the frequency will make NT able to distribute 1.5 hundred millions lines.

Though present capacity of the NT can bear 1 million of lines, NT has distributed only 7 hundred thousands of lines. The officials claim despite having the capacity, NT was unable to distribute the lines as it faced the problem of trafficking after NT offered fee income call scheme.