The Nepal Telecom Authority (NTA) has allowed UTL (United Telecom Ltd.), a joint venture company in Nepal formed in collaboration with Telecom Consultants India Limited (TCIL), Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL) and NVPL (Nepal Ventures Pvt. Ltd.) to start VoIP services in the Himalayan nation.
UTL has now started viability study to find out the partners and phone routes to provide IP services to its Nepalese customers.
UTL may invest some $2 million to implement the IP technology in the country.
Unlike Nepal Telecom, the UTL is allowed to offer full mobility. Thus, the joint venture company can not provide its telecom services in the selected areas in Nepal, although it has the identical license and using the same technology to that of Nepal Telecom.
Any way, it is a positive sign for VoIP in Asia. However, NTA need to address the critical issues relating to VoIP, especially the growth of illegal VoIP services in the country that caused loss of NRS 8 billion to the state exchequer.
