KATHMANDU, Aug 11: Ncell, a leading private telecommunication service provider of Nepal, has reportedly agreed to support the government's efforts to access highly confidential data of citizens in the name of controlling crime through new provisions.
The move by the government to expedite the process of introducing new telecommunication laws with controversial provisions that seek to benefit cellphone giant Ncell has raised concerns. It appears that Ncell is trying to manipulate the existing law, and the government seems to be more than willing to help it do so.
The 25-year license period that Ncell obtained on September 1, 2004, is expiring in September 2029. As per the existing Telecommunication Act, 1997, after the expiry of the license period, Ncell will come under the ownership of Nepal government if it chooses not to limit its foreign ownership to less than 50 percent.
As the trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold, government officials at all levels are reevaluating their health and safety protocols and adjusting workplace guidance.