September 1, Kathmandu - Broadband internet has reached more than 14,000 centers in the country through the Rural Telecommunication Development Fund launched by the Nepal Telecommunication Authority, the regulatory body of the telecommunications sector. NEA has made public the progress report till mid-July.

The report states that free internet has reached 14,683 centers in 60 districts. The project, aimed at providing high-speed broadband internet to public bodies across the country, has completed more than 50 percent of the work in 10 other districts. Similarly, NEA has stated that the work of selecting service providers for network and connectivity connections has been completed as specified in four more districts. Broadband internet connection is being provided in local body offices, ward offices, secondary schools, and health institutions under the project with a total investment of Rs. 5.67 billion. As per the progress report, internet connection has been made in 663 local body offices so far. Similarly, internet connection has been completed in 5,428 ward offices, 4,783 secondary schools, and 3,809 health institutions.

The project, which is divided into 18 packages, aims to expand the internet to 15,982 agencies. So far, 91.87 percent of the agencies have internet connections. Where free internet will be available for two years from the date of connection. After that, the internet can be used through the service provider by paying the fee prescribed by NEA. NEA has also taken forward the monitoring of whether the work has been done as per the criteria in the completed districts. According to NEA, monitoring and verification of six projects have been completed so far.

Similarly, the first phase of verification is being done by the consultants appointed by the authority of the two projects. Similarly, the second phase of certification is underway in two projects.