Lives of people in Jumla changed forever when the mobile phone service was launched in 2007.

Narbajang Hamal of Sinja Ladku said he had to walk for two days to reach Khalanga just to make a phone call his son in Kathmandu in the past. “Such days are gone and we can talk to our relatives from our own houses,” he said.

Though the satellite telephone was initiated in 2001, people had limited access to the service. By then, telephone service was available only at the District Development Office and the District Administration Office.

Local trader Himmat KC said they used to queue up for the whole day to make a phone call. “Sometimes, we had to return home without making a call,” KC said. The land line phone was introduced only in 2005.

Govinda Acharya, second vice-resident of the local Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the mobile phone service has enabled locals to get connected with local and international markets. “Now businessmen can fix the price of herbal medicines by making a phone call,” he said.

Nepal Telecom officials said the district headquarters has 633 landline phones whereas they distribute over 4,000 SIM cards to users in the district each year. Likewise, around 3000 people use sky phones. Nepal Telecom Office chief in the district Kesh Giri said there is a demand for around 7,000 SIM cards in the district each year.

Nowadays, people from all age groups have mobile sets. Locals have also been availing of the 3G Internet service on their cell phone sets. Dhan Singh Aidi of Chumchaur said sometimes makes video calls to his son living in Malaysia.

Meanwhile, people have also started visiting local cyber cafes to access the Internet. Ishwori Prasad Devkota, who runs a cyber café, said people come to his cyber café to use Facebook, Skype and Viber.