KATHMANDU: The government is preparing to permit Ncell to renew its telecommunication service operation license in installments.
This decision is expected to be finalized at an upcoming Cabinet meeting.
According to sources, Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, will present a proposal at the Cabinet to allow Ncell to renew its license in installments.
Ncell’s current service operation license is set to expire on August 31 under the Telecommunication Act of 2053 and the Telecommunication Regulations of 2054.
A notice published in the Nepal Gazette in 2069 BS indicated that Ncell was required to pay NPR 20.13 billion for the license renewal by May of the previous year. To date, Ncell has paid only NPR 4 billion.
The company must now pay an additional 15 percent fee on top of the original amount by August 31 to avoid cancellation of its license.
Should Ncell fail to meet the deadline, it risks having its license canceled, potentially leading to a state takeover, similar to the situation with Smartcell in the past.
