Nepal Telecom (NT) said it would launch 4G service as soon as it receives the go-ahead from the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA). 

Speaking at a meeting of the parliamentary Development Committee on Tuesday, NT Managing Director Buddhi Prasad Acharya said they would offer 4G in the major cities where the people are ready to upgrade to the service, expand 3G services in all the districts having access to mobile telecommunication and scrap its 2G service. 

“We want the NTA to respond to our request so that we can start the service right away,” Acharya said. According to Acharya, NT’s plan to improve its service quality has been stymied by lack of equipment as most of the imported items were stuck at customs offices due to the blockade and extra paperwork required by the Public Procurement Act. 

“We need to compete with private players. However, we cannot procure equipment as fast as they can. This has impacted our quest to make the service quality better,” Acharya said. 

He added that the company was installing new BTS towers to revitalize the system which had been knocked out by the April 25 earthquake. (PR)