ISPAN Seeks 15-Day Extension to Manage Disorganized Cables in Kathmandu Valley

Kathmandu Valley’s disorganized internet, telephone, and cable wires management has been delayed, prompting the Internet Service Providers’ Association of Nepal (ISPAN) to request an additional 15 days to complete the task.

During a meeting with stakeholders at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology on Friday, ISPAN informed that more time was needed to complete the work. The meeting was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Communications, the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, the Nepal Telecommunications Authority, Nepal Telecom, and ISPAN.

Communications Minister Dr. Bikram Thapa expressed dissatisfaction with the delay in completing the task within the stipulated timeframe. He emphasized that managing the wires was a legal and professional responsibility of the service providers and that the government was committed to completing the task.

ISPAN’s Chief Executive Officer Subash Khadka informed that about 58% of the work had been completed in the first phase of the project, which covers six routes in the Kathmandu Valley. However, ISPAN cited practical problems, including the lack of adequate infrastructure by the Nepal Electricity Authority, a shortage of manpower in the field, and obstacles from the police and traffic police.

ISPAN has adopted a new strategy to focus available manpower in one area to expedite the completion of the project. The first phase aims to manage wires in areas such as Tripureshwar-Kalimati-Kalanki, Jadibuti-Pepsicola, Tripureshwar-Lazimpat, Samakhusi-Town Planning-Gongabu, Kirtipur, and Purano Baneshwar-Gaushala-Chabahil.