Though NT should have renewed its license two years ago, it had been dilly-dallying on the payment of the renewal fee and placed a condition to the Nepal Telecom Authority (NTA) that it will clear the fee only after the private operator did so.[break]
“The board meeting of NT held on Thursday has decided to pay the renewal fee in installments. NT too will pay the first installment of the renewal fee within a week,” said Surya Silwal, Chairman of the NT.
Officials at the NT said that the corporation will be paying Rs 2.5 billion as the first installment to the NTA within a week and pay the remaining Rs 17.5 billion on annual installment basis.
MoIC and NTA had pressed the NT and Ncell to pay the renewal fee mainly as their licensing conditions require them to renew their operating licenses after 10 years. After completing 10 years of operation, they have to renew license every five years.
The two large telecom operators chose to clear their renewal fee worth Rs 20 billion on installment basis mainly as the cabinet decision allowed operators to do so on eight-year installment.
Another private operator United Telecom Limited (UTL) renewed its operating license about three months ago, paying Rs 204.18 million -- first installment of its renewal fee.
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