The government's plan to test 5G services in Nepal by 2021 seems to have failed. Testing of 5G services in Nepal is likely to take place only in the first quarter of 2022. Earlier, the telecom regulatory body Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) had made public a 5G roadmap with a plan to test 5G services in Nepal by 2021.
Earlier, communications ministers and government officials had been saying that Nepal should now go for 5G service. Similarly, the government-owned Nepal Telecom Company Limited (Nepal Telecom) had also entered into an agreement with a tendered company to test 5G in some places as soon as its 4G service was expanded.
So far, more than 85 percent of the 4G service has been completed and the work of service and tower expansion is only in remote and high hilly areas, the telco officials said.
Both plans to fully expand 4G services and test 5G services are expected to be completed by 2021.
Nepal Telecom has submitted a proposal for testing of 5G services as per the government's plan and the proposal is still being discussed. However, testing of 5G services within the stipulated period has become difficult.
Nepal Telecom has submitted a proposal to the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) seeking permission to test the 5G service, but the permission has been revoked after a detailed work plan and testing did not provide clear information on how to manage the devices.
Even after a long time, no decision has been taken in the permission application of Nepal Telecom. The NTA has taken detailed discussions and information with the managing director of Nepal Telecom, Dilliram Adhikari, but has not been able to make a decision yet.
NTA Director Amber Sthapit said the application for permission for the Fiji service had been discussed and a clear plan with more information was sought from the company.
"We have sent a letter to Nepal Telecom asking them to come up with a plan after clarifying the details and technical issues. The work will move forward only after receiving their response," Director Sthapit told Technology News.
He said the NTA had sent a proposal to the government to open the frequencies for the 5G service, including the frequencies demanded by the company, but no decision had been taken.
According to the director, the delay was due to the fact that the telco had to return the frequency it received for testing the 5G service in case it did not give clear information about what would happen to the imported devices.
"The company did not elaborate on the equipment. In other countries, the decision should be made by looking at the process of 5G testing. There is no guarantee that the tested frequency will be available later. It should be clear what to do if there is a difference between the frequency of testing and the frequency of commercial use, ”said Director Sthapit.
According to him, as the issue of 5G service and testing is new to everyone, the contentious and obscure issues are being resolved by discussing them.
However, Nepal Telecom has alleged that the decision-making process of the NTA has led to delays in getting permission and testing of 5G services.
Dilliram Adhikari, managing director of the company, said that they have already sent all the information and discussed it, but it has been delayed.
"The NTA has sent a letter again asking for more details. We will reply in a few days," said the managing director.
According to the Managing Director, Nepal Telecom is preparing to test the 5G service within the time given by the NTA.
"We are ready for testing as soon as the frequency is available and as soon as we get permission, we can test in time by updating some software and importing some radio equipment," he claimed.
However, due to misunderstanding between the regulatory body and Nepal Telecom, the trial period of 5G service has been postponed.
Similarly, the Radio Frequency Policy Determination Committee chaired by the Minister of Communications and Information Technology could not convene and the test was delayed due to non-disclosure of frequencies required for 5G services.
The regulatory body NTA is preparing to allow Nepal Telecom as soon as the government determines the frequency for 5G service and it is clear what will happen after the frequency for testing.
But for that, the telco has been saying that the required details and technical issues should be clarified.
If these issues are not resolved, testing of 5G services in Nepal is likely to take place only in the first quarter of 2022.
Similarly, private mobile service provider Ncell had also applied to the NTA with a demand to test the 5G service. The NTA has also sent Ncell's request to the upper body. As a result, even Ncell is not likely to get trial permission for 5G service immediately.
Telecom officials have also accused the NTA of delaying the NTC's approval process by allowing Ncell to test 5G services.
