The government will provide free internet to about 20,000 basic schools across the country. Earlier, under the Broadband Network Expansion Project, the program was implemented to provide internet in community secondary schools across the country, but now the internet will be provided in basic schools.
Chairman of the Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) Purushottam Khanal informed that free internet would be provided to the basic schools using the funds under the Rural Telecommunication Development Fund.
"Through the NTA, funds are made available to the local level for internet connection," he said.
NTA is investing more than five billion rupees for the expansion of broadband networks with the aim of providing high-speed internet to public bodies across the country. NTA estimates that an additional investment of around Rs. 1 billion will be required after the addition of 20,000 schools.
The program will benefit primary and lower secondary schools across the country through the local level. Similarly, the government is going to expand the broadband network with optical fiber in eight different districts of Bagmati province which was severely affected by the earthquake. Minister for Communications and Information Technology Parbat Gurung informed that the program started on Tuesday.
According to him, every public body in Kavre, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Sindhupalchowk, Dolakha, Sindhuli, Okhaldhunga, and Ramechhap will have an internet connection under this program. Earlier, after the earthquake, the internet was provided to those districts through VSAT internet technology.
Minister Gurung said that the internet will now be provided through an optical fiber in coordination with local bodies and such internet will be available for free for two years. The internet will have to be made available in 76 local bodies of these districts within three months of the agreement. The internet will be at least 20 Mbps.
