Nepal Telecom, the state-owned phone company, has been facing delays in conducting 5G trials, leading to speculation about the underlying reasons. Some insiders attribute the delays to geopolitical concerns, while others believe it is due to laziness on the part of the company. 5G, the fifth generation mobile technology, offers significantly faster internet speeds than its predecessor, 4G, and has the capacity to support a higher number of devices in a given area.
Despite announcing several launch dates, Nepal Telecom has continuously postponed the trials without providing a clear explanation. While internal trials have commenced in some cities, company officials have questioned the efficacy of conducting trials without involving public locations. According to Shobhan Adhikari, a spokesman for Nepal Telecom, the company is awaiting a license to import the necessary equipment for the trials in the remaining provinces.
Furthermore, Nepal Telecom has claimed that there is a lack of 5G-compatible phones in the country to justify the delay. However, import records indicate that millions of smartphones with advanced features, including compatibility with 5G networks, have been imported in recent years. Sanjay Agrawal, the vice-president of the Mobile Importers Association, has criticized Nepal Telecom for not acknowledging the availability of these devices, stating that the demand for 5G-compatible sets would rise once the trials begin.
In addition to these arguments, there are theories suggesting that geopolitical factors may be influencing the delay. Nepal Telecom had previously contracted two Chinese companies, China Communication Service International (CCSI) and ZTE, for a 4G expansion project. As part of this agreement, ZTE and Huawei were also supposed to provide equipment for 5G trials. However, Nepal Telecom officials have dismissed claims of geopolitics playing a role in the delay.
The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology has also weighed in on the matter, stating that there is no immediate need to launch 5G technology. With the 4G rollout not yet complete and operational across the country, the ministry believes that there is no rush to introduce 5G. Netra Prasad Subedi, a ministry spokesperson, mentioned that they had requested a report from Nepal Telecom regarding the delay but did not receive a specific reason.
The 5G project in Nepal has faced various obstacles, including delays in allocating spectrum and changes in government leadership. The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have further hindered progress as imports came to a halt. Nepal Telecom last announced the start of 5G trials during its anniversary on February 5, only to defer the plan once again. The telecom regulator, Nepal Telecommunications Authority, has repeatedly inquired about the delays but has not received any response from Nepal Telecom.
Comparatively, India rolled out 5G technology in October 2020, and within six months, it had already gained 50 million 5G customers. Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, two major Indian telecom companies, have been gradually introducing their 5G networks in different cities. Jio aims to complete the rollout by December 2023, while Airtel plans to do so by March 2024.
Experts anticipate that 5G technology will revolutionize various industries, enabling safer transportation, remote healthcare, precision agriculture, digitized logistics, and more. In September 2021, Ncell, a private telecom company in Nepal, expressed its interest in conducting 5G network trials but is still awaiting approval from the telecom regulator.
In conclusion, the delays in Nepal&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPXJvYTFuWW13Zkl3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrUlVsYVFUWXhlamwwUmt0VWJWRTNVWFJLTjIxb1FUMDk-8217;s 5G trials have raised questions about the underlying reasons. While some suspect geopolitical influences or laziness on the part of Nepal Telecom, others point to bureaucratic hurdles and a lack of urgency from the government. Despite the advancements in 5G-compatible smartphones and the potential benefits that 5G technology can bring to various sectors, Nepal has yet to kickstart its 5G journey.
