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Santosh Poudel Appointed as the Spokesperson of the NTA

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30 March 2021, Kathmandu

Nepal Telecommunications Authority is planning to appoint a new spokesperson.

Santosh Poudel has been appointed as the spokesperson of the Nepal Telecommunications Authority. Chairman Purushottam Khanal has appointed him as the new spokesperson of NTA.

Previously, NTA’s spokesperson was Min Prasad Aryal but now Poudel has been appointed in his place.

Poudel, who was promoted to NTA director just a year and a half ago. He has shown his intention to work for the organization’s growth in a new role. In order to change people’s perceptions of the organization.

You may like this: NTA Made Arrangements For the Use of Certain Band Frequencies

He is currently the NTA’s head of the law and permit division. Poudel has been with NTA for the last 21 years.

Prior to this, he was in charge of the permission and rural telecommunications development. He also has been in the monitoring division and in other things too.

You may like this: NTA to Establish Cyber Security Simulation Lab for Telecom Industry

NTA To Regulate Content Providers

NTA Made Arrangements For the Use of Certain Band Frequencies

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13 March 2021, Kathmandu

NTA (Nepal Telecommunications Authority) made arrangements for the use of certain band frequencies. There will be no need for permission for the use of certain band frequencies for domestic purposes.

The regulatory Nepal Telecommunications Authority has begun plans for the use of certain frequencies that can be used within a restricted area without the permission of the service provider.

NTA spokesperson Min Prasad Aryal told the NTA that it had recommended the Radio Frequency Policy Determination Committee for unlicensed frequencies needed for the growth and expansion of the telecommunications network.

You may like this: NTA Brings Regulations for Use of Telecommunication Infrastructure

“The NTA recommended that the committee identify the bands that could be used without permission,” he said. After approval by the committee, the approval of the NTA would not be compulsory to use such frequencies.

NTA immediately suggested that the frequency of the 5.1 GHz band be unlicensed. Aryal has advised that this band is particularly useful for improving the quality of WiFi used at home.

This frequency would also help to unblock the communication inside the home. In addition, certain high-level frequencies can also be used to arrange white TV space in rural areas.

You may like this: NTA Announces Six Companies to Analyze Mobile and Internet Networks

NTA Installs IT Labs

Nepal Telecommunications Authority Installs IT Labs in Community Schools

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12th September 2020, Kathmandu

The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has issued a Press Release informing the installment of the necessary equipment in 725 schools so far.

Similarly, the prescribed equipment has reached 898 community schools.

NTA confirms that the initiation of setting up IT labs in community schools across the country is a part of the government’s Digital Nepal Framework.

In the press release, NTA stated that the company had paid about 30% of the total amount to the supplier organization after finding its work satisfactory in 50% of the monitored schools.

However, the supplier organization could not proceed with training due to the current situation.

NTA started the work of establishing IT labs in at least 4 community schools in each federal constituency across the country under an agreement with OBCI/MAX/NEPA (JV) on September 10, 2019.

The work was supposed to be completed within six months. However, the COVID crisis made it difficult to complete the project before the deadline.

NTA PRESS RELEASE

NTA Requests to Register Complaint related to the IT Lab

The Telecommunications Authority has further requested to register any complaints related to the IT lab.

In fact, it is a part of the agreement reached with the community schools. The press release also asks the schools to provide any problem, complaints, or feedback.

The initiation of setting up IT labs is to make teaching methods in community schools qualitative and competitive. Undoubtedly, the intention is to encourage maximum use of information and communication technology.

Moreover, it supports the Nepal Government’s Digital Nepal Campaign.

NTA has further confirmed that training will resume in all the districts once the government uplifts the ban on holding meetings and seminars.

Click here to see the list of schools equipped with IT labs so far.

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NTA CYBER SECURITY BYLAWS

Panel Discussion Successfully Held on NTA Cybersecurity Byelaw 2020

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12th September 2020, Kathmandu

Recently, Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) issued the Cyber Security Byelaw, 2077 (2020). The objective of this byelaw was to meet cybersecurity standards and show best practices to protect IT infrastructure from various malicious attacks and threats.

Similarly, this document is expected to build trust and confidence of users towards using ICT technology and services of NTA.

On 11th September 2020, the Information Security Response Team Nepal (npCert) and Center For Cyber Security Research and Innovation (CSRI) jointly hosted an open discussion on the topic “Multi Stakeholders Discussion on NTA Cyber Security Byelaw, 2077.

Suresh Bhandari, Program Coordinator and Director at npCERT welcomed panelists and participants with his opening remarks.

The panelists for the discussion were:

  1. Bijay Kumar Roy – Director at Monitoring Division, NTA
  2. Shubha Kayastha – Co-founder/Executive Director at Body & Data
  3. Binay Bohora – MD at Vianet
  4. Binita Shrestha – Manager at NTC
  5. Yasmine Bhattarai – Unit Head at Ncell

The panel discussion was moderated by Chiranjibi Adhikari, President of npCERT.

Discussions, Questions, and Way Forward

Cybersecurity Byelaw 2020

Bijay Kumar Roy thanked npCERT for taking the initiation of conducting a discussion on the recently issued byelaw since it is important to clear any confusion.

He went on to explain the role of NTA to bridge the gap due to the digital divide in the country.

Vivek Rana, npCERT advisor and keynote speaker for the discussion gave an insight into the byelaw and its importance through a presentation.

One of the takeaways from his presentation was the need to keep IT and security separate. Since IT creates value and cybersecurity protects value, Vivek Rana suggests not merging these terms.

“Defending is attacking in reverse,” he finished his presentation by reflecting on the importance of defense.

Also Read: Multistakeholderism, The Key in Making Nepal ICT Day Successful

Subha Kayastha was the first to raise a question regarding the byelaw. She asked what will govern other service providers if the byelaw is only for licensees.

Picking on a point from the byelaw, she said that anonymizing data is not enough, it can still be used against the person making it a potential threat.

On the other hand, Panelist Binay Bohra feels that the byelaw has become a bit granular. Moreover, he said that It should’ve defined a perimeter and allowed ISPs to carry out its operations based on that.

Compliance requires time

Panelist Binita Shrestha said that NTC will be working to meet these compliances by breaking them down in phases. “However, we will need some time and prerequisites by coordinating with NTA”, she said.

Likewise, Yasmine Bhattarai explained that it took aggressive meetings and discussions with stakeholders to prepare this document. She also agrees that this byelaw needs more time and work to achieve full compliance. She stressed on building a road map by studying the organization structure to comply quickly and effectively.

Panelist Bijay Kumar Roy seemed ecstatic about how fast this byelaw is gaining momentum and support from the service providers. Since he is a leading person behind this byelaw, he said that discussing and debating the points will only help to improve it.

“I urge everyone to try and comply with it so that we can gradually make revisions if needed”, he said.

In case you missed the discussion, follow this link.

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cybersecurity byelaws 2020

Multi Stakeholders Discussion on NTA Cyber Security Byelaw 2077

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6th September 2020, Kathmandu

In today’s digital era, owning data and information not only accumulates to technological but also financial gain. The terms cybersecurity, cyber law, and hacking are not new in today’s world. Many people are well-tuned to the digital world. From paying bills to phone calls or to store important documents electronically, digital platforms have become a much convenient option. With the platform gaining importance, threats induced by cyber-crime have also affected a diverse number of public and private organizations. The servers and data centers of such organizations are much prone to cyber-attacks.

Any individual or organization could be an easy target for hackers. Therefore, it has become more important to protect the information system and infrastructure from hackers by implementing cybersecurity best practices and enforcing cybersecurity laws. The Government of Nepal has also implemented many cyber laws such as the Electronic Transaction Act, 2063. And, there are other Cyber related acts and laws, such as National Cyber Security Policy 2016, and IT Bill 2018 are in process of amendment. Recently, Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) launched Cyber Security Bylaw, 2077 (2020) meeting cybersecurity standards and by showing best practices to protect IT infrastructure from various malicious attacks and threats to building trust and confidence of users towards using ICT technology and services of NTA.

This week on 11th September 2020 the Information Security Response Team Nepal (npCert) and Center For Cyber Security Research and Innovation (CSRI) Jointly hosted an open discussion on the topic “Multi Stakeholders Discussion on NTA Cyber Security Byelaw, 2077”.

For more details: Click Here

NTA Director

Nepal Telecommunications Authority Issues Cyber Security ByeLaw, 2077

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3rd September 2020, Kathmandu

Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has issued Cyber ​​Security ByeLaw 2077, requiring service providers to conduct mandatory security audits.

The new regulations make mobile and internet service providers responsible for cybersecurity. Experts have praised the efforts of NTA to issue the regulations, especially when cyber threats are on an increasing trend.

Cyber Security ByeLaw

The ByeLaw provides that service providers must protect customers’ data. Likewise, they should inform the NTA in case of a cyberattack and prevent it.

Moreover, the regulations make it mandatory for service providers to undergo a security audit every 3 months. The service providers have to submit the security audit report to the Telecommunication Authority every six months.

Director of NTA, Min Prasad Aryal says that these regulations help to tackle the increasing cyber threats resulted due to the rise in online usage. “Schools, businesses, and other activities have already shifted online and with the increase in internet usage, we can’t ignore the possibilities of misuse. Therefore, NTA issued this ByeLaw to prevent misuse, criminal, and fraudulent activities,” says Director Aryal.

He further adds that the ByeLaw will assist all the mobile and internet service providers licensed by the NTA to make proper policies, manage the workforce and business plans.

Moreover, the bye-law contains items to be checked in an IS Audit, which the service providers will have to report to the NTA.

The Cyber ​​Security ByeLaw covers General Security Standards and Practice, Data Security and Privacy, Information Systems Audit, Cloud Security, Infrastructure and Network Security, Core Security Systems, Application Security, Incident Response, In-House Security Issues including Capacity Building.

“The primary objective of these regulations is to protect consumers’ privacy in compliance with international standards and practice. Also, we hope that it will strengthen the system architecture preventing any unwanted breach of data,” adds Director Aryal.

Furthermore, he said that action would be taken against the companies that did not implement the new regulations as per the Telecommunications Act.

The new bye-law clearly points towards NTA’s growing concern for security. We hope that these regulations strengthen the situation of cybersecurity in Nepal.

What do you think about the new cybersecurity regulations?

Have your say!

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NTA is known to prevent people from using SIM card registered

NTA Will Prevent People From Using Other’s SIM Card, Min Prasad Aryal

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Nepal Telecommunications Authority has drafted a rule that disapproves using sim cards registered with other person‘s name. The provision of “E-KYC system” restricts users from using the sim cards that were initially registered with other people’s details.

The misuse of sim cards under other people’s name for criminal activities is quite prevalent in Nepal. After many complaints received directly from the Prime Ministers office regarding this issue, the telecom came up with this procedure. According to the spokesperson of Nepal Telecommunications Authority, Min Prasad Aryal, telecom is bringing forth “E-KYC System” to minimize the use of others sim cards.

Aryal says that the system of E-KYC is aimed at preventing the misuse of sim cards and to reduce the multiple sim cards being registered under same names. He says, “The first steps of the system are ready to be implemented. The stages of this procedure still need deep analysis and discussion. Even though the procedure need discussion, it will surely discourage the use of sim cards under other person’s details.” On the other hand, the current provision of having multiple sim cards under the same registration may be stopped as well. He says, “Although the procedure right now doesn’t include the number of sim cards that can be registered by the same person, it may be added after a discussion of the authorities.”

Aryal also mentioned that, “Currently there are 6 service providers. The customers can choose which service they want and each sim cards needs to be registered by filling separate forms. This is quite a tedious task. So, telecom plans to prepare a central database with digital finger print and digital photo. This will be linked to national identification database in the future.”

Once the central database is created, the customers can only issue a sim card from the dealers by registering the finger print and digital photo. The data will then be tallied with the data with the government and only the sim card will be issued. So, only the person with the name in the registration can claim the sim card. This system allows to easily identify the number of sim cards that a person already owns, so it can also be monitored.”

This system will not only be implemented to new sim cards, but the existing sim card owners will have to re-register their cards. For this they will have to go to the dealers and register their fingerprints along with digital photo for a certain time frame which will be released. This will help to identify the legitimacy of the documents of customers and will also prevent sim duplication. Aryal added, “Currently the sim cards can be issued by normal shops, this doesn’t help in the data collection and doesn’t ensure the legitimacy of documents. Right now, with 10 photocopies of a person’s document, the customer can issue 10 sim cards. All 10 cards can be misused illegally. So, to prevent the misuse of sim cards and to make the service trust worthy, this procedure is starting soon.”