Govt to Cut Internet Costs, Mandate Use of Nepali Software in Public Offices

The government plans to make internet services cheaper in the next two years so as to enable more Nepali citizens can access the internet.

This is part of an economic reform plan from the Prime Minister’s Office, based on advice from a commission formed under former Finance Secretary Rameshwar Khanal.

A new national IT policy will be introduced within a year to cover new technologies like AI, robotics and the Internet of Things (IoT). The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MoCIT) will prepare this policy.

MoCIT will also set basic standards for IT infrastructure and create a policy for its certification within a year.

In two years, the government plans to use the same software for similar services across all its offices.

MoCIT will open government-funded work centers in major cities within a year to support IT companies.

Local governments are expected to start night-time public transport in two years for people working in the IT field. The plan also includes building hostels or housing for women working in tech.

Within two years, government offices must buy software only from Nepali IT companies.

Also, over the next five years, at least 10 percent of the capital budget will go toward building IT infrastructure like workstations and IT parks.