Representatives of 38 member countries have gathered in Kathmandu for the meeting of the intergovernmental body 'Asia Pacific Telecommunication Community' (APT) focused on the development of communication, information and latest technology in the Asia Pacific region. APT's 34th Wireless Group (ADBDUZ-34) meeting has started in Kathmandu from Monday.

APT General Secretary Masnaro Kondo said that a total of 400 participants participated in the meeting hosted by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology of Nepal and the Nepal Telecommunication Authority. He informed that more than 200 people were directly present in Kathmandu alone. He said that various aspects of the wireless system related to the digital age will be discussed in the meeting that will last until April 4. In the meeting, the existing program will be studied, progress will be reviewed and a new agenda will be proposed and discussed.

"The meeting will discuss the coordination between regional communication and information systems and its multifaceted effects," said Secretary General Kondo, "Until now, APT has prepared 12 suggestions and 184 reports." In this, topics such as spectrum harmonization have been placed in the center.'  In the

program, the Minister of Communication and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung said that AWG has guided member countries, regulatory bodies and service providers in the Asia Pacific region to benefit from wireless technology. He said that wireless technology is an important communication facility for a geographically complex country like Nepal.

"We are currently preparing for AI-related policy, policy initiatives like Digital Nepal Framework 2.0 and 5G service in major cities of the country," Minister Gurung said, "The target is to connect all local levels with broadband internet by the end of the next financial year." Our aim is to develop the IT sector as an industry. In the

program, the secretary of the ministry, Radhika Aryal, mentioned that technological development is essential for the development of the digital economy. She said that there is a delay in the implementation of 5G in Nepal.

Nepal Telecommunication Authority Chairman Bhupendra Bhandari said that spectrum management, new technologies such as 5G/6G and ways to address the digital divide will be discussed in the meeting of APT Wireless Group. He informed that mobile phone access in Nepal has reached 100 percent, mobile broadband is 89 percent, fixed broadband is 46 percent and 4G service is 86 percent. He also said that the process of replacing 3G technology will start soon.