KATHMANDU, Oct 1: The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has expressed its stance to recover outstanding dues of more than Rs 8.052 billion from United Telecom Limited (UTL).
UTL's basic telephone service license has been automatically cancelled effective from September 5, in accordance with the Telecommunications Act 1996 and the Telecommunications Regulations, 1997.
Govt firm on recovering pending dues of dedicated feeders
Following the cancellation of the license, a decision has been made to recover the outstanding amounts owed by UTL to the Government of Nepal and the NTA—including frequency fees, royalties, and contributions to the Rural Telecommunication Development Fund—as government arrears.
Speaking at a press meet organized on Thursday, NTA Spokesperson Min Prasad Aryal said the regulator has decided to take control of UTL’s movable and immovable assets, telecommunications infrastructure, systems, and network, and to proceed with the valuation process. Aryal informed that letters have been sent to the Nepal Rastra Bank, the Department of Land Management and Archive, and the Office of the Company Registrar to freeze UTL’s bank accounts and movable and immovable assets.
Meanwhile, the NTA has announced its annual budget of Rs 5.50 billion for the Fiscal Year 2026/27. Under the budget, Rs 813.17 million has been allocated to the reserve fund and Rs 4.69 billion to the Rural Telecommunication Development Fund.
Out of the tariff proposals submitted by various telecommunication service providers—including those for mobile and internet services—the NTA has approved the rates proposed by ten service providers. The concerned service providers have been directed to publish the approved rates and their effective dates for public information.
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