Hi list, To my best knowledge, ISPAN is not against the ADSL connectivity being provided by NTC. In fact ISPs were the first to approach NTC with the concept before the "cable internet boom" in Nepal but it was NTCs bureaucrats who prevented any development to happen. So ISPs were forced to deploy their own cable internet infrastructure. Also, during that time individuals/ISPs worked hard to de-license the wireless spectrum for the betterment of everyone just on time or NTA might have badly regulated it too.
The only argument of ISPN is, like NTC (a business motive institution), private company should also have fair opportunity to use/hire government infrastructures, like NTC can, without having an unfair control, so that ISPs can deploy further services rapidly and competitively. But as NTC holding an upper hand in NTA they have always tried their best to suppress any competition. Example: - High taxation on use of VSAT links (in figures of lakhs) which prevented rapid scaling of infrastructure by ISPs to remote areas because of high cost of deployment. - Also, NTA/Government puts high taxation (13%) and further royalties for using service that is still under primitive development (communication and connectivity). Why would government enforce such discouraging policies for an infrastructure development that has been as important as road or industry despite, also knowing the fact, promoting ICT will largely contribute to education and business. As NTC prevented fair access to the available national infrastructures, ISPs are forced to buy internet connectivity via VSAT links (more $$$ drain) and do their own cabling, adding cost burden largely preventing more reasonable connectivity to the users. NTC is to blame!!! NTC neither took the initiation to develop their own infrastructure nor contributed any development by creating favorable policy for others to scale their infrastructure just for the cause of market DOMINANCE over public benefit. Despite having a clear picture of ICT development in Nepal and knowing it very nicely what should be done to boost it. (Remember, it was the ISPs who provided accessible connectivity of internet in Namcha Bajar not NTC). Interesting thing to note is, we have the user base at corners of the country willing to enjoy ICT related service, our technical skills to take it their, also money to invest on it BUT bureaucrats at NTA with their own agenda who would stand between the development. Now NTC wants to play dumb, promoting a carefully crafted propaganda for market advertisement falsely blaming ISPs on a baseless issue. If all had favored well we would already have had cheaper internet few years ago than what NTC has promised now. SO WHY IS EVERYTHING HEADING SO FOR THE ISPs! NTC putting effort for market dominance as internet provider? NAAA!!! If you pay a closer look at details… we have far bigger issues. NTC has been suppressing all private companies in telecommunication market. It's just due to effort from individuals/business that has been raising voice since years VoIP has been finally legalized. NTC was against it since ever (it also busted many individuals for using VoIP , remember?) Now as VoIP is legalized, ISPs within few years will have the infrastructure to provide city wide FREE TELECOMMUNICATION facility via VoIP. NTC must be really worried and like its old policy do everything to eliminate healthy competition. . Could this be true, you might doubt… yes…proof……… trend! Currently, ISPs route to each other for free through NPIX. Subishu cable internet (confusion!?) gives 24/7 access to all Nepalese website hosted in Nepal regardless of the subscription… and other ISPs planning to follow… as doing so would largely benefit local business and help as a foundstone of companies like Google or Microsoft of Nepal. Also, VoIP being revolutionary technology has already proved itself in other countries. So it's just the matter of right time near soon, when ISPs will have the infrastructural ability to route VoIP for free to its users. As, as per I have seen at places, they already have implemented prototypes of this concept as initial research and development. So I see a great slash in telecommunication cost in few years. NTC management must be in a really worrying position as, like, NTC could no way compete with ISPs as internet service provider same as it won't be able to compete with ISP on VoIP/Telecommunication business either when (now not the matter of IF an ysoon) ISP steps in. Now as VoIP has been legalized recently ISPs would probably be routing voice over their network for free or very nominal cost soon Also, WorldLink's NET-2-PHONE service could grow as the VoIP service provider for Nepal, don't you think so. I can really imagine making a call for 1 paisa. So, the big picture is NTC/NTA are using their muscles to suppress ISPs into their current boundaries so that ISPs wont endanger their billion $$$ business, or keeping them on toes for their poor telecommunication service at high price. Ok, take a minute to pay a closer look at this fact; before, both ISPs and NTC use to buy bandwidth using VSAT connectivity, then NTC could stay competitive in any way both with service and price (and even till now). But NTC managed to take control over the fiber optic backbone of the government so that they can connect to internet backbone in India at lower cost than via VSAT and with the policy to wipe out ISPs, they restricted access to that infrastructure by ISPs through their influential channels. Further, it looks like NTC has the policy to suppress ISPs, even though suffering few corer loss and selling service in loss making fair competition impossible, which might result in wipeout of small ISPs and by suffering some Million $$$ in loss NTC may be able to suppress ISP's suppressing any possible infrastructure for VoIP by the ISPs. Some flashback: -It was due to World Link's VoIP business NTC took the initiation to slash international calls. -NTC felt the heat from UTL so it suppressed UTL's plan as mobile service provider, but see after years and NTC making profit in billions we still have poor network service and neither have we had fair options to choose from. -Because ISPs provided web related services NTC was forced (which is definitely not self motivated) to provide www services. NTC has always been the last one in the queue when it comes to true market competition... yet it appears to be successful because it has always wiped or suppressed any healthy competition from happening putting unfriendly policies in place making it (almost) the only option for users. SO, as I see this situation, I find NTC the biggest obstacle for development of ICT in Nepal and it is quiet tactfully cheating Nepalese suppressing national development by neither letting others work for the development and neither doing it themselves. The truth is ISPs had the resource and technical capability to provide the what NTC is currently offering 4 years ago, but since years NTC suppressed all innovative development (example: unattractive telecom/NTA policy, huge taxation, tried to control and license wi-fi spectrum, made VoIP illegal etc………) Even today ISPs are suppressed by bad policies as they were before and after 4 years NTC shamelessly brings the technology that could have been implemented 4 years, keeping is stale for this long and now boasts shamelessly on the price/type of service what ISPs could have launched 4 years ago already, but only if it was an open market. That is why I will want to stand by the truth, conveying my appreciation to the ISPs for the services they have been providing us despite the market dynamics since years and would love to see them launch VoIP service as a great alternate over NTCs poor and monopolistic service which they have been trying to maintain by suppressing any possible competition. Further, I request you all to FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO SPREAD THE TRUTH as your appreciation for the ISPs for what they have done so far and as an encouragement gestures for wanting them to stay competitive as they have always been. Thanks, -bipin ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ FOSS Nepal mailing list: [email protected] http://groups.google.com/group/foss-nepal To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Community website: http://www.fossnepal.org/ -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
