Internet Service Providers' Association of Nepal (ISPAN) has said that the lack of adequate sensitivity on the part of the government has compelled Internet service users to pay hefty charge.

Talking to Nepalnews, Pawan Shakya, president, ISPAN, said, "Double taxation policy coupled with absence of uniformity in Internet infrastructure has hindered the expansion of Internet service apart from making it expensive to general people."

'The imposition of additional six percent tax on the gross revenue of both the ISPAN and NSP (Network Service Provider) has only contributed in making the Internet service unjustifiably expensive to general people," Shakya said.

From the gross revenue of ISPAN and NSP, four percent is charged as royalty and the remaining 2 percent is being deducted for Telecom Development Fund (TDF).

"If the government is really looking for expanding the Internet service and making it affordable, it should immediately scrap double taxation policy and make arrangement for common use of the available Internet related infrastructure," opined Shakya.

Different companies are investing a lot of amount to develop their separate infrastructure related to internet. If the proper arrangement is made to enable the ISPs to use the common infrastructure, it will translate into reduction of the existing cost for using Internet, said Shakya, adding, "If the volume of investment being made for infrastructure goes down, it will naturally facilitate the end users."

He also urged the government to come up with concrete mechanism for common use of ADSL(Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line broadband, which is now being used only by Nepal Telecom (NT).

The Nepal Telecom Authority (NTA) had directed the NT to share the ADSL broadband with other ISPs. However, the NT denied complying with the instruction saying that it was the sole investor for the ADSL broadband.

Earlier, information and communication ministry had held discussion with concerned stakeholders to scout possible ways to expand the Internet service by reducing its cost of use. The ministry is planning to leverage the concept of Internet in rural areas as well as educational institutions.

During the meeting, the stakeholders had forwarded the view that common use of high speed broadband would help in bringing down the cost of Internet service. nepalnews.com

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