Nepal Government Mandates New Data Usage Protocols for Telecom Providers

Kathmandu. The government has directed telecommunications companies to implement a system that allows data usage via main balance deduction once a data pack expires. This directive was included among the 10 priorities approved by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology on Sunday.

One of the provisions, developed in collaboration with the Nepal Telecommunications Authority, mandates that providers must notify customers when 90 percent of their data pack is consumed. It also requires the implementation of a 'Pay As You Go' (PAYG) option and a subscription-based service model. The Nepal Telecommunications Authority confirmed that this directive has already been issued to both major telecommunications service providers.

Once this system is operational, users will receive a notification upon consuming 90 percent of their data. Telecom spokesperson Rabindra Manandhar stated that the notification will offer users the choice to either renew their data pack or continue using the internet via their main balance. He added that the company has received the government's directive and is currently making the necessary technical preparations.

'We were previously sending notifications at 80 percent usage, but we will now shift to 90 percent,' said spokesperson Maharjan. 'This will allow customers to decide whether or not to purchase a new data pack before their current one runs out.'

According to Maharjan, if a user opts for a new pack, data will be consumed according to that plan. If they choose to use their main balance, charges will apply accordingly. However, if a user makes no selection while continuing to use data, the service will function based on default settings.

Currently, telecom companies offer data services at lower rates through data packs, while usage via main balance is significantly more expensive. Previously, users often remained unaware that their data pack had expired, leading to high charges from their main balance, which they only discovered after their credit was depleted.