KATHMANDU, Dec 27. 2012
Ncell, the private telecom operator that committed to clear its renewal fee on installment basis, has paid the first installment of renewal fee worth Rs 2.5 billion to the Nepal Telecom Authority (NTA).
“We received the first installment from Ncell on Friday,” said NTA Chairman Digambhar Jha. He told Republica that the largest GSM operator of the country has committed to clear renewal fee in 8 installments.
Ncell had formally informed the Ministry of Information and Communication (MoIC) and NTA in November that it would clear the renewal fee on installment basis mainly after the cabinet decision allowed operators to do so on eight-year installment.
In its letter to the MoIC and NTA, the largest GSM operator in the country then had also committed to pay first installment of renewal fee by January, 2013. It has also expressed commitment to clear remaining installments as per the conditions set by the government.
This means Ncell will now pay the remaining Rs 17.5 billion on annual installment basis within 2020.
MoIC and NTA had pressed the Ncell and Nepal Telecom, the state-owned operator, 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.
According to NTA officials, the operating license of Ncell has to be renewed by August, 2013. NT should have renewed its license two years ago. However, the two players have been citing that they will clear the due only after the other do so.
“We are happy that Ncell has started clearing its due fee. We hope the state-owned operator will follow suit soon,” said Jha.
Although NT has been saying that it would clear the dues after private operators clear their fees, officials said the state-controlled operator is yet to respond to the instructions of the authority in this regard.
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.
Source: Republica
Ncell, the private telecom operator that committed to clear its renewal fee on installment basis, has paid the first installment of renewal fee worth Rs 2.5 billion to the Nepal Telecom Authority (NTA).
“We received the first installment from Ncell on Friday,” said NTA Chairman Digambhar Jha. He told Republica that the largest GSM operator of the country has committed to clear renewal fee in 8 installments.
Ncell had formally informed the Ministry of Information and Communication (MoIC) and NTA in November that it would clear the renewal fee on installment basis mainly after the cabinet decision allowed operators to do so on eight-year installment.
In its letter to the MoIC and NTA, the largest GSM operator in the country then had also committed to pay first installment of renewal fee by January, 2013. It has also expressed commitment to clear remaining installments as per the conditions set by the government.
This means Ncell will now pay the remaining Rs 17.5 billion on annual installment basis within 2020.
MoIC and NTA had pressed the Ncell and Nepal Telecom, the state-owned operator, 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.
According to NTA officials, the operating license of Ncell has to be renewed by August, 2013. NT should have renewed its license two years ago. However, the two players have been citing that they will clear the due only after the other do so.
“We are happy that Ncell has started clearing its due fee. We hope the state-owned operator will follow suit soon,” said Jha.
Although NT has been saying that it would clear the dues after private operators clear their fees, officials said the state-controlled operator is yet to respond to the instructions of the authority in this regard.
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.
Source: Republica
No comments:
Post a Comment