For the last few years, we have seen substantial usage of communication and decrease in rates due to technological advancement. This has made communication more accessible.Both information and communication are a must for any development process. No doubt, smooth flow of information with good communication helps Nepal to enter newer eras of politics and global market. We had much talk on good governance and economic boom, but the time has come for us to hit hard on the usage of technology to make our dreams come true.
I’m sure 2010 brings us more advanced technology we have been talking about – next generation technology where we have intelligent network to handle three-in-one functions, viz., data, voice and video. Right now, we have cable services going into homes in urban areas. With appropriate technology and policy, we might be able to see fiber-to-home access in the days to come.
Communication (both voice and Internet) has been much urbanized. Though with the introduction of CDMA, much of rural areas is covered, we must work harder to overcome the geographical hurdles of our country to make communication reachable to every corner. I also hope that in 2010, we’ll be able to cover more of our development regions with wireless connections for both voice and data.
What we’re lacking today is a proper coordination among stakeholders – the policy makers, regulators, and service providers. We must have strong demarcation on the responsibilities with reward and punishment. The state mustn’t overlook the potentiality of Information and Comunications Technologies (ICT) services and must come up with timely policy. Technology is changing day by day, and so are the applications; so policymakers must be careful to study such rapid changes and adopt quickly for its benefits, rather than making “five-year plans”. No doubt, proper planning is needed for the usage of resources like frequency and infrastructure.
While talking about infrastructure, the regulators must come up with infrastructure-sharing policy so that duplication on investment is absent. Such regulation not only helps to bring the last-mile connection rate low, but also builds harmony among service providers for sustainable and better services. The regulators must also be focused on working independently, and recommending the government on upcoming technology for the betterment of the country. Service providers must, on their part, focus on providing quality services rather than widely availing of inferior services.
Pavan S Shakya is an ICT strategist and the president of ISP Association of Nepal. Shakya founded Gramin Pahunch, and is also the Public Relations Director for Worldlink Communication Pvt. Ltd.
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