The Telecommunication Authority of Nepal (TAN) has stated that it is trying to determine the appropriate frequency to prepare the basis for operating 5G services in Nepal.

NEA chairperson Purushottam Khanal said that work would be started on the expansion of the technology after the National Frequency Policy Determination Committee headed by the Minister of Communications and Information Technology set the band and price.

The NEA will recommend the appropriate price and band on the basis of which the committee will reach a decision.

With the introduction of the technology neutrality policy in Nepal, it is said that 5G has been tested in 700, 800, 900, 1800, 2300, 2600 and 3500 bands.

“We are seeking permission from the government for the test. We will not charge anyone who conducts the test during that period and we will take action to ensure that even the supplier licensed for the test does not charge extra for using FiveG services from the customer,” Khanal said.

According to the authority, the providers who are using the band will be able to test it.

“Due to technology neutrality, Nepal Telecom, which has spectrum in the 800, 900, 1800 and 2100 bands, can use FiveG in any band.”

“The only question is which band can be used for ‘interconnection’ and technology can be easily used in different devices,” he said.

But more important than the band is the cost of the technology and the long-term sustainability of the market.

Khanal says that the return should be seen even after billions of rupees have been invested in Forge.

Khanal pointed out that there is no need to rush to use the FiveG network in Nepal as FiveG has not been introduced in many countries of the world.

This means that the NEA is currently in a state of readiness rather than using the FiveG network.

“Based on the current and upcoming studies, we will make public when Nepal will go to 5G,” he said.

“Initially, the 5G network will be city-centric.”

Security concerns

When asked about the equipment used during the installation of the 5Gnetwork, NEA said that they are aware of the security and citizen data.

Showing security concerns, the use of 5G equipment by Chinese technology company Huawei, which also has a significant market in Nepal, has been banned in western countries.

Khanal says, “We are aware of the security and the statistics of the citizens and we have an interest in it. But we are not in favor of objecting just because others have objected.”

“Security standards had to be met. That’s our concern. Our facts had to be within Nepal. It had to be accessible to Nepalis and not used illegally.”

What is 5G?

Khanal says that 3G, 4G and 5G are related to the speed of the internet.

With the introduction of new technology, mobile Internet users will be able to access data more easily than currently available 2G, 3G or 4G.

Officials say the speed and quality of mobile internet is relatively good.

Apart from this, NEA is also studying the condition of devices that can use 5G network in Nepal.

“Not all phones available in the market are still Forge-friendly,” Khanal said.

NEA estimates that about 8 million people in Nepal are currently connected to the 4G network.