Internet services knocked out by fuel shortages and power cuts

Kathmandu December 30- As internet service providers (ISPs) have not been able to keep their system running due to fuel shortages and power cuts, internet services have been hit hard. An increase in load-shedding hours by the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has prevented them from fully recharging their backup batteries and they can’t use their generators because there is no diesel as well.

According to ISPs, internet services have been disrupted at several locations across the country, especially during the blackout hours. ISPs have double challenges of  keeping  running their central control room and  also of keeping the distribution points at various locations in operation.

An ISP requires 150 litres of diesel daily to keep the control room running. They have been relying on black market fuel to remain in operation. The ISPs lament that the government has not put them in the list of emergency service providers and nor paid due attention to their woes.
 

There were 39 registered ISPs across the country providing internet services to 131,333 subscribers as of mid-September 2015, according to the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA). The number of clients does not seem to be large, but they include important institutions like banks, airlines, media outlets, hospitals, education institutions and hotels. A service disruption might take a big toll on the functioning of these institutions.