Author: Unnat Sapkota

Kathmandu- Elon Musk’s satellite internet company, Starlink, entered Bhutan in the first week of December. The entry was facilitated by Bhutan’s government granting operational approval for satellite internet services. Prior to obtaining approval, Rebecca Slick Hunter, Starlink’s Global Licensing Director, met with Bhutanese Prime Minister Lotay Tshering in July, a meeting that proved to be a breakthrough for Starlink’s entry into the Himalayan kingdom. Amid geopolitical sensitivities, how did Bhutan manage to smoothly introduce the American company Starlink without facing concerns or pressure from neighboring India? India has long held a significant influence in Bhutan, particularly in sectors like security,…

Kathmandu – At one point, Chinese smartphone brand Huawei dominated Nepal’s market. Its Mate, P, and Nova series redefined the smartphone experience, capturing the imagination of Nepal’s youth in 2014-15. Huawei once generated substantial revenue in Nepal through its smartphones. However, when U.S. tech giant Google ceased providing its software for Huawei devices, the company’s global smartphone sales nosedived, and its market in Nepal dried up as well. As Huawei’s gadget market share diminished, Chinese brands like Xiaomi, Oppo, and OnePlus capitalized on the opportunity to dominate. Shift to Telecommunications With its primary revenue source shrinking, Huawei pivoted to telecommunications.…

Kathmandu – Ncell’s Managing Director and CEO, Jabbor Kayumov, appeared on a public stage in an unconventional manner on Wednesday. Dressed in an informal setup at a company event, Kayumov addressed critical issues in the telecom sector, cautioning that billions in investments could crumble if urgent matters are not addressed. Typically, press conferences organized by companies focus on their own issues. However, Kayumov avoided discussing Ncell’s specific concerns and instead presented data showing how Nepal is losing benefits from its telecom sector. He stated unequivocally: “Nepal’s telecom sector is failing. Its failure means the state loses its assets. Do we…

Kathmandu- After WorldLink strengthened its position by clearing over two billion rupees in government dues and bringing in foreign partners, other Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are now facing difficulties in raising enough funds to pay their taxes. Eight ISPs, which had previously rejected paying taxes on amounts collected under the pretext of maintenance (arguing that this didn’t fall under telecommunication services), found themselves in a tough spot after WorldLink paid off its dues and obtained new licenses for Internet and network services. Despite WorldLink’s settlement, these ISPs are struggling to gather the necessary funds to pay the outstanding taxes they…

Kathmandu – Experts have stated that Nepal’s financial sector is at high risk of cyber attacks. This was shared by experts at a program organized in collaboration with the Nepal Association for Software and IT Services Companies (NASIT) and the Technology Journalists Forum (TJF), with management by Lagpoint, held in Kathmandu. In the training program, Roshan Pokhrel, Chief Security Information Officer at Lagpoint, a company working in cybersecurity, explained that although technological development has made life easier, Nepal’s situation remains at risk of cyber attacks due to insufficient vigilance. He discussed the types of cyber attacks that could happen in…