KATHMANDU: The CAN Federation has condemned the decision of Nepal electricity Authority (NEA) for removing internet cables from utility poles citing that the NEA’s move has led to obstruction in the flow of essential internet services.
Issuing a press statement, the Computer Association of Nepal (CAN) expressed regret over the recent obstruction of essential internet services by the government body Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and has urged the government to intervene the process.
“The CAN Federation regrets that the NEA has cut the fiber wires of the internet service providers in Bharatpur, Butwal, Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Dharan, Dhankuta, Taplejung, Khadichaur, Dhangadhi and other places which has obstructed internet in many places,” reads the statement.
Similarly, Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) has also expressed regret over the cutting of fiber wires by NEA.
The tussle between NEA and ISPs has hit the internet users after the state-owned power utility started removing internet transmission cables from the electricity poles throughout the country from Saturday. The NEA and the ISPs have been on a warpath after the authority announced to hike the rental charges of its utility poles being used by ISPs.
While the NEA has been blaming the ISPs for breaching the rule to clear the dues for the use of the utility poles, the ISPs have termed the power utility’s move to hike the rental charges as unfair. In this regard, ISPs have knocked on the doors of Nepal Telecommunications Authority to increase internet prices by Rs 150 to Rs 300 per subscriber. On the other hand, the NEA is aggressively removing the wires and cables of internet and cable TV services, which have been identified among the essential services.