Derelict mobile phone services affect Khotang

KHOTANG, Nov 4: Telecommunication services in Khotang are in a halt since the last three months. Thousands of Nepal Telecom (NT) users have been affected after both its networks -- Namaste and Sky phones -- were obstructed in the northern and southern parts of the district. 

Disruption of telecom services is likely to affect public communication for the approaching elections, however, the NT has been making little effort to address the issue. 

The repeater tower stationed at Fedi of Kepilasgadhi Rural Municipality-1 stopped functioning after the battery failed to charge. Telecom users of the coverage area have to climb up hills to get proper network. The NT says that the problem is due to malfunctioning of the solar panel in the tower. 

Likewise, the NT’s tower at Ghinudanda of Kepilasgadhi-4 Rural Municipality Baksila has stopped functioning, resulting in the obstruction of Sky Phone services in the locality. The locals have faced great inconvenience as the connection is always lost after 4 pm and also throughout the day during foggy days. According to the rural municipality head Krishna Rai, communication between the rural municipality and its ward offices has been affected. 

“Cell phones work for a few hours during the day while the sun is up. But the consumers face great inconvenience as a connection can’t be established at other times” said Rai, who is disappointed by the telecom authority’s negligence despite several requests to fix the system. 

Similarly, consumers of southern Khotang have been affected by the battery damage at the repeater tower of Chisapani, Janteshwar-4 Rural Municipality. 

At a time when the consumers are facing great difficulty with telecom services, the NT’s district chief, who is responsible for the NT’s entire operation in the district, is on leave for a long time.