KATHMANDU, Sept 2: The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has renewed the license of Ncell, a private telecommunications service provider, for the next five years. The renewal was confirmed on Sunday after Ncell paid an initial Rs 5 billion.

The decision to renew the license came after the government, on August 29, approved the renewal with certain conditions. Ncell's renewal had been pending for an extended period, and on May 27, the company applied for renewal, requesting installment facilities by paying Rs 4 billion upfront. The NTA granted the renewal under specific terms, allowing Ncell to proceed with an initial payment of Rs 1 billion.

As part of the agreement, Ncell is required to pay the remaining Rs 15 billion in three annual installments of Rs 5 billion each. The government has also decided to impose a 10 percent interest rate on the outstanding amount, as reported by the NTA.

Initially, Ncell was required to pay Rs 20 billion in four installments. Having already paid the first installment of Rs 5 billion, Ncell now has to settle the remaining Rs 15 billion in the subsequent three installments.

Ncell's original license, granted for a period of 20 years, expired recently. The government has since issued a renewed license, allowing Ncell to operate its telecommunications services for an additional 25 years. This license must be renewed every five years following the initial 10-year period. Upon the completion of the 25-year term, the license has been extended for the final five years, with the condition that Ncell will be transferred to government ownership.

 
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