22nd May, Kathmandu
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli inaugurated the construction of information highway (optical fiber network) in the mid-hill road during a grand ceremony organized by the Nepal Telecommunications Authority and Nepal Telecom at Galchi, Dhading. Prime Minister has formally started the construction by digging the ground with a shovel himself for making high-quality communication platform for mobile phones networks, landline telephone, and the internet, to provide reliable and sustainable communication services.
Nepal Telecommunication Authority has given Nepal Telecom the responsibility of planting optical fiber in various places in the states 1,2 and 3 of the hilly highway, and for this, the Telecom has made a contract with five companies to start the construction as soon as possible.
According to the agreement signed in different phases from March 12 to 22, for 596 Kilometers in State 1 Korean LS Cables has been appointed. Similarly, in State 2 for 1028 Km, Arogya Constructions Nepal and Joint Venture of China Railway are selected. For laying out the optical fiber in 555 km of State 3 Hong Kong’s CCSI (China Communication Service International) has been agreed upon. Similarly, an agreement has been signed with CCSI for the equipment needed, but it has been dealt with Singapore’s CTS Communications for Router equipment. The construction period has been stated to be two years. There is a plan to combine a total of 2,179 km of an optical network from Chio Bhanjang to Aarughat in the mid-hill highway.
Optical fibers with 9-core capacity will be scaled in the above highways. Similarly, the optical fiber connecting the district headquarters from the road will be of 48 core, and the optical fiber connecting various municipalities will be of 24 core. The optical network will be expanded in the district headquarters of 35 districts under the province 1, 2 and 3 in both north-south regions of the mentioned roadway.
Recently, the Information Highway Construction has been started at Hile, Dhankuta of State 1 and Khurkot, Sindhuli State 3 in the mid-hill highway.
Speaking at the program organized at Galchi, Prime Minister Oli said that this project was an integral part of the realization of Digital Nepal Campaign. This project has been started by the government to not only improve mobile phones services but also to facilitate mobile and internet quality services to be readily available throughout the country. Oli also said that there had been a massive leap in the communication sector, and this will continue to aid in the Digital Nepal Campaign.
Speaking during the program, Gokul Prasad Baskota, Minister of Communications, provided insights on how the information highway, can also be used to improve telecom design, distant learning, e-commerce, e-tourism, e-agriculture, and e-banking service.
During his speech, Chief Minister of State No. 3, Dormani Poudel said that due to the era of information and communication, the construction of the highway would also play a significant role in achieving prosperity.
Presenting the welcome speech during the program, Nepal Telecom management director Dilliram Adhikari said that the construction of such highways would transform the country into the digital age. He also mentioned that such roads and 4G Network would help Nepal enter the era of the digital economy. In the program, Nepal Telecommunication Authority Chairman Purushottam Khanal said that the construction of such highways would help in the development of the country’s overall growth and aid modernization.
Chinese Ambassador to Nepal, Hou Yanqi, said that the relationship between the two countries was further strengthened by cooperation in the field of information and communication and from the foreseeable extension of highways between the two countries. Similarly, the federal MPs Rajendra Prasad Pandey, Bhumi Tripathi, KhemLohani and State No. 3’s internal affairs and law minister SalikramJamkatel and State Representative Rajendra Prasad Pandey also had their say during the program.
In the program, Nepal Telecom’s management directors Pradeep Raj Upadhyay, Shailaja Rai, Gokarna Prasad Sitaula and Mutuk Anand Vaidya were present along with other employees.