Post-paid cellphones start ringing in Nepal

Post-paid cellphones start ringing

Nepal Telecom’s (NT) post-paid cellular phone service that was suspended on February 1 for security reasons’ resumed today. A total of 45,000 out of the 55,000 registered users in Kathmandu had submitted the re-registration forms, while only 34,000 lines have been activated. While the service resume in Kathmandu in phases, the same will be expanded to other parts of the country later, director at the New Service Directorate, Nepal Telecom, Madan Kaji Shakya, said. The authorities concerned have screened at user’s identities and Nepal Telecom has restored connections as per their direction, Shakya said. According to the managing director of NT, Sugat Ratna Kansakar, subscribers need not to pay the rental for the suspended period of three months. The pre-paid service is also likely to resume in a similar fashion much later.

No service for some

Post-paid mobile service for about 10,000 users will not be activated due to “security reasons”. “Once their re-registration documents are verified the service would be made available to them also, director at the New Service Directorate, NT, Madan Kaji Shakya, said. Those who cannot have access to the service include politicians, journalists, some high-ranking government of officials and people with suspected links with the Maoists. “Their phones have not been activated following a direction from higher authorities,” an official at NT said on condition of anonymity.

Source: The Himalayan Times, May 3, 2005