Nepal likely to see WiMAX soon!

Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) has written to the Nepalese Ministry of Communication and Information to allow the operation of Wireless Broadband internet – WiMAX in Nepalese sky.

WiMAX, the truly broadband telecom service – Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, is a 4th generation mobile communication technology which is considered to be the next generation of mobile telephony and data services. High speed wireless internet is the ultimate portability based on microwave communication – the Line of Sight(LoS) Communications.

According to the NTA official Bhesraj Kandel , the Authority is recommending the Ministry to open the WiMAX service operation in order to increase the access of more people and the high speed internet. How the operation of WiMAX can be done by the providers and other necessary peripheral services associated with this broadband technology is soon to be out.

Once the Ministry grants, the Authority will ask for proposals from the service providers (ISPs and Telecomm Operators) for their intentions to provide WiMAX service in Nepal. This service can be used with data, voice, video – the topmost facilitates that a latest mobile technology can provide.

Due to wireless technology, WiMAX can easily be expanded to cover larger areas and larger number of users. The basic coverage of this Microwave LoS communication is around the radius of 50 KM from the service provider’s wave transmitting station BTS (Base Transceiver Station). This distance is enough to cover the whole of Kathmandu valley, even though the operating radius is around 10 KM in cities like Kathmandu.

TechSansar.com estimates that just one microwave tower would be sufficient for the valley if the WiMAX provider is operating at the normal mode of LoS technology. Just a few more towers are sufficient to cover the whole of Naya Nepal.

The rumors are with Ncell and other private ISPs who are interested in operating WiMAX broadband telephony communication technology. We are yet to see if the services are provided based on USIM (Universal SIM) cards or any other chips.