A request not to use satellite communication services, a warning from the Telecommunication Authority to take action
Local service providers have complained that foreign tourists are using the internet openly in the Himalayan regions of Nepal through satellite SIM cards and devices brought from different countries. The regulator Nepal Telecommunication Authority has also issued a notice and requested not to use satellite communication services in an unauthorized manner.
The authority has requested not to use internet services without permission, saying that there have been complaints that foreign telecommunication service providers operate illegal internet services in some places including the Himalayan base camp. In the notification issued recently by the authority, it is mentioned that the company that conducts mountain climbing is using the satellite internet service of a foreign service provider company and this action is illegal according to section 21 of the Telecommunications Act, 2053.
Local service providers are complaining that foreign service providers such as Starlink are using satellite internet services in base camps during the mountain climbing season. Some time ago, American billionaire Elon Musk expressed his desire to extend the Starlink service to Mount Everest in a virtual conversation with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. But his company has not taken any permission for satellite internet service in Nepal. Starlink has deployed thousands of satellites into low Earth orbit. Due to this, the network is easily available even in the remote Himalayan region.
"The representatives of Starlink have not formally come to us," said Pradeep Paudyal, the assistant spokesperson of the authority, "It is not possible to operate telecommunication services in Nepal without taking permission." A Global Mobile Personal Communication Service (GMPCS) license has been arranged for satellite internet services. The authority said that it has received information that the mountain climbing and trekking company has been operating unauthorized foreign satellite phone and internet services.
In Nepal, only two companies have received GMPCS license so far. Sanepa's Constellation Pvt Ltd and Kamaladi's iFor Technologies have taken GMPCS licences. Constellation Pvt Ltd was licensed by GMPCS on 19th March 2059. An employee there said that even 6/7 years ago, 42 percent of illegal satellite communication devices and SIMs were being used in Nepal's BIM. At that time, the authority put up notices at the airport and tightened such devices, but gradually this problem became a problem, he complained.
'Currently, tourists are openly doing Tiktok live from Everest base camp, the authorities are unaware,' he said, 'When devices and SIMs bought abroad are run on the frequency of Nepal, even if the resource (frequency) here is used, the fees and revenue go to the country where the SIM was bought. Can't even trace anyone doing illegal activities. Therefore, it should not be allowed to do this in terms of national security and revenue collection.'
Dubai's Thuraya and Constellation, the official service provider of the American satellite communication service provider Iridium, have said that their 900 satellite SIMs are currently active in Nepal. Calls from Thuraya's satellite prepaid SIM will cost $1.25 per minute (about Rs 167) and 10 cents per SMS (Rs 13), while using an Iridium SIM will cost up to $4.5 per minute. Thuraya and Iridium satellites are in the highest geostationary orbit. Only one body in Nepal has taken Iridium SIM. Especially along with the trekking agency, Nepal's security agencies, telecommunication companies and international missions have taken satellite telecommunication devices and SIM cards. Experts say that Starlink charges are twice cheaper than these two, so this year tourists are taking more of the same service.
They say that since such phones can be easily brought from Nepal's international airport and customs, when tourists come for climbing, they bring devices and sims bought abroad. It is understood by some that the device brought in that way is sold here at a cheaper rate. Official service providers are in a desperate situation to bring batteries for such phones. But unauthorized sets are being imported openly," says an official of the authority. "The authority has become serious this year. Now the notice has been issued in an awareness manner. But if this sequence does not stop, we will have to activate our team from taking the help of Nepal Police.'
According to the notification of the authority, the operation and use of unauthorized communication services is punishable under Section 19 of the Telecommunications Act, 2053. The authority has made it clear that legal action will be taken if satellite internet or phone service is used without a license.
