NT making CDMA services more user-friendly

KATHMANDU May 4: Nepal Telecom (NT) is launching domestic inter operator SMS service for its CDMA users within few months. The state-owned telecom operator is also launching short code Value Added Services (VAS) and various EVDO data packages.



NT officials unveiled their future plans at an interaction organized at the operator´s earth station at Balambu on Friday.[break]



Anantaman Singh, deputy manager of Wireless Telephone Directorate, informed that NT has already completed the tests for domestic inter operator SMS service and will be launching it in a few months. “We are also testing short code VAS and will launch the service soon. We also have plans to unveil various EVDO data packages,” said Singh.



According to NT, there are around 1.03 million CDMA users in the country. NT had launched international SMS service for CDMA users from mid-April. It has plans to distribute 270,000 Removable Users Identity Module (RUIM) by the end of the current fiscal year.



Speaking on the occasion, Amarnath Singh, managing director of NT, said the company has focused more on serving remote areas of the country. “We are also in the process of upgrading GSM system. Our customers can experience improvement in service within three months,” he added.



NT has been providing free EVDO services to schools in Kaski and Kavre districts. Besides, CDMA has been used in rural areas at postal department for sending fax, email and voice communication, tele-consultation, weather reporting services, agriculture services and even for financial services.



“Under the recently launched agriculture service, people of rural areas can get updates about vegetable price of Kathmandu, Pokhara and Narayangadh by sending SMS to 3399,” Anantaman said.



NT is also planning to expand the capacity and coverage of GSM networks in remote areas of Nepal. “We will be enhancing the capacity as well as coverage of GSM network in remote areas of mid-western and far-western region within a year. Besides, we will be improving the network of Kathmandu Valley in six months,” Sangita Pahadi, deputy manager of GSM at NT, said.



NT to launch early warning system at Tsho Rolpa



NT, in association with United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Practical Action as well as Department of Hydrology and Metrology, is soon launching an early warning system at Tsho Rolpa to alert the communities about the Glacier Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF).



Anantaman Singh, deputy manager of Wireless Telephone Directorate, said NT is working to provide early warning system at Tsho Rolpa - one of the biggest glacial lakes in the country.

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