Nepal Telecom launched ‘Fiber to The Home’ (FTTH) today.
The ‘Fiber to The Home’ technology – a high-speed broadband internet technology that offers data service to cater to the growing demand for connectivity with higher bandwidth options – uses optical fibre for data transfer and customer premise equipment (CPE), a multi-featured device for a connection between user devices and the server computer through fibre distribution point.
Installation of the technology will make it possible for both broadband internet and voice communication through a single fibre, the stock market listed telecom service provider said, adding that the high-speed broadband internet service initially ranges from 1 mbps to 100 mbps whereas multimedia service and bandwidths will be available in the near future through the same technology.
“The new technology will increase the competitiveness of the telecom service provider,” said minister of Information and Communications Minendra Rijal, inaugurating the new service.
“With the new technology, other services should also be made competitive in the market and more accessible for the people,” he said, stressing on to improve quality of services including ADSL (internet) and mobile phone.
The company also claimed that it is the best quality of internet data service available in the country till date. The service supports all kinds of internet facilities like video on demand, television channels and gaming needs, it added.
Installation of the technology requires optical fibre connected to customer premises equipment from the fibre distribution point. The device consists of four RJ-45 ethernet interface for high-speed internet, inbuilt wi-fi router for wireless connection, a cable interface for television channels, and two RJ-11 telephone interfaces for voice communication.
The first phase of Fiber to The Home’ service will start from Sundhara counter for four areas – Durbarmarg, Kamaladi, Kathmandu Plaza and Jamal – within the next two weeks. The telecom is also planning to extend the service to Thamel, Lazimpat, Sorhakhutte, Chabahil, Swayambhu, Chhetrapati, Bouddha, Kopundole, Patan Durbar and Satdobato in the valley within the next two months.
Likewise, in next five months, the telecom will extend its service out of the Valley in Bharatpur, Pokhara, Biratnagar and Butwal, managing director of the telecom service provider Buddhi Prasad Acharya, said, adding that the company is initially targeting corporate houses but will gradually make it accessible to households too.
NT will carry out installation works after studying distribution point feasibility based on requests from customers. It will provide CPE device, required by the technology, at different rates ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000, based on the length of the package requested.
The company charges Rs 500 registration fee and Rs 60 per metre for fibre cable. Once the installation is completed, Nepal Telecom will offer data service, which ranges from Rs 1,140 for 20 GB per month to Rs 18,240 for 480 GB data per year.
Likewise, customers can choose among several bandwidths, ranging from 1 to 4 mbps to 16 to 20 mbps in unlimited packages, which are available at Rs 7,600 to Rs 8,000 per mbps for a bandwidth of 16 to 20 mbps, he added.
Likewise, secretary at the Ministry of Information and Communications Sunil Bahadur Malla – the chair of Nepal Telecom – on the occasion said that the telecom service provider will upgrade its services using the latest technology.