Minister for Communications Dr. Bikram Timilsina.
KATHMANDU: Nepal has called for stronger international cooperation to protect telecommunications infrastructure from climate-induced disasters, narrow the digital divide and ensure equitable access to emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI).
Presenting Nepal’s national policy statement at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-26) in Doha, Qatar, Minister for Communications Dr. Bikram Timilsina emphasized the need for targeted technical assistance, technology transfer and concessional financial support to prevent developing and least developed countries from lagging behind in digital transformation.
Although global digitalization has created new opportunities, developing countries risk falling further behind because of unequal access to computing infrastructure, skilled human resources, investment and advanced technologies, he said. He added that disparities in access to emerging technologies such as AI and fifth-generation (5G) mobile networks were creating a new dimension of the digital divide.
Minister Timilsina said Nepal had made considerable progress in expanding digital connectivity, with mobile voice service coverage exceeding 100 percent of the population and fibre broadband coverage reaching 53.4 percent.
More than 20,000 kilometres of optical fibre have been laid under the National Information Highway, connecting over 24,500 government offices, schools and health institutions. Telecommunications infrastructure is also being extended to underserved and remote areas through the Rural Telecommunications Development Fund, he said.
He further informed that preparations were underway to introduce 5G services in major cities while continuing to expand 4G coverage. However, ensuring equitable digital access remains challenging because of Nepal’s difficult geography, scattered settlements, limited resources and high infrastructure development costs.
Drawing international attention to the vulnerability of telecommunications infrastructure to climate-induced disasters, Minister Timilsina recalled that flash floods in August 2026 damaged the country’s main telecommunications fibre network and disrupted services at 198 mobile base transceiver stations (BTS).
The communication disruptions also hampered rescue and relief operations and the timely exchange of emergency information, he said. Although more than 90 percent of the affected communication services were restored within three days, he stressed the importance of developing disaster-resilient telecommunications infrastructure and reliable emergency communication systems.
He also identified rising cyber fraud, cybersecurity threats, inadequate digital literacy and the environmental sustainability of telecommunications infrastructure as key challenges requiring attention alongside the expansion of digital services.
Minister Timilsina called for stronger collaboration with the ITU and its member states to expand digital connectivity in rural areas, strengthen disaster-resilient communication networks, establish reliable emergency communication systems and ensure inclusive access to emerging technologies.
He said these objectives would require international support through concessional loans and grants, technology transfer, technical assistance, capacity development and appropriate policy and regulatory reforms.
The minister also stressed that the priorities and concerns of least developed and developing countries should be meaningfully reflected in the ITU’s strategic and financial planning for the 2028–2031 period.
Reaffirming Nepal’s commitment to working with the international community towards shared digital transformation goals, he said no country should be denied opportunities for digital development because of its geographical location.
Publish Date : 13 November 2026 10:14 AM
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