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Kathmandu, Nepal, January 3, 2023: The Internet Service Providers' Association of Nepal (ISPAN) has threatened to disrupt internet service across the country alleging the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) for forcefully removing internet cables from its utility poles.
Organizing a press conference on Monday, the ISPAN has also threatened that the NEA would be responsible if they were forced to disrupt internet service.
The ISPAN has alleged the NEA of cutting off lines to the ISP's data centers, operational points, main lines, trunk lines, crossings, fiber wires, and other wires from electric poles causing obstruction to provide internet service and huge loss on the pretext of outstanding rental charges.
The NEA’s monopoly on pole charge has created an unfavorable environment for providing internet services, ISPAN President Sudhir Parajuli said adding “if we were forced to disrupt internet service, the NEA would be responsible for it.
During the press conference, he also claimed that the NEA has been removing internet cables in various parts of the country despite paying the rental charges for using NEA's utility poles. According to the ISPAN, the NEA has been cutting lines in different cities including Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Biratnagar, Pokhara, Dharan, Bhairahawa, Inaruwa, Kakadvitta, Gauriganj and Pokhara.
It is said that NEA has hiked charges by up to 700 per cent sans consulting with other authorities concerned including the ISPAN. The ISPAN has also appealed to the relevant ministries, agencies and human rights commissions to make immediate intervention not to disrupt the internet services.
