Ncell has already submitted a proposal to build telecommunication infrastructures in quake-hit areas by utilizing RTDF to Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA), while Nepal Telecom (NT) is finalizing its proposal. The two telcos took the initiative after NTA sought proposal from them to build infrastructures in quake-affected areas by utilizing RTDF.Ncell has proposed to NTA to build resilient network in the disaster-hit districts, including Kathmandu Valley, to ensure connectivity to people in these districts. The privately owned operator has proposed to build 105 new Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) by analyzing positioning of the villages and their population density and connecting people through micro-wave and VSAT technologies.
Ncell has also proposed to lay high-capacity optic fiber network to make sure that quake-hit areas have long-term resilient infrastructure links. It has also proposed to implement Internet Protocol-Radio Access Network (IP-RAN) to boost capacity of the sites, enabling rural broadband.
"Building these sites ensure significant increase in geographical coverage of mobile network and ensure 97 percent of the population of these affected districts have access to resilient network and mobile services," Milan Sharma, corporate communications expert of Ncell, told Republica. Sharma added that enabling of rural broadband at this juncture would be quite critical as it would contribute to rebuilding works, by ensuring people, communities and rebuilding agencies to access data and adopt appropriate solutions.
For resilient network, Ncell has proposed laying 1,283 km of optic fiber to ensure connectivity. Ncell said that the proposal has been prepared considering the need of the affected districts.
Similarly, Nepal Telecom has said that the RTDF should be used to construct damaged infrastructures. "We are making a proposal and request NTA to build BTS, lay optical fibers and construct damaged buildings as NT will have to reinvest in these infrastructures," Buddhi Prasad Acharya, managing director of NT, said.
Achyutananda Mishra, spokesperson of NTA, said that invited proposal from the operators so that relief works would be easier and people in the affected areas can be connected at the earliest.
"We have received proposal from only Ncell so far. The RTDF Mobilization Committee will study the proposal and take appropriate decision," added Mishra.
The committee, which is led by NTA Chairman Digambar Jha, has joint-secretary level officials from the Ministry of Information and Communications, National Planning Commission (NPC) and Ministry of Finance as members.
NTA has requested the operators to share infrastructure that are built by using money collected in RTDF.
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