The Nepal Telecommunications Authority has fined 14 internet companies Rs. 50,000 each for charging extra fees and failing to follow official service rules.
Details of the Action
The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) took strong action against 14 internet service providers for breaking the set rules. Each company has to pay a fine of Rs. 50,000. These companies were punished because they did not follow the instructions given by the authority, provided services that were different from the approved packages, and charged customers more money than allowed.
According to the official press release issued on Tuesday, the decision to fine them was made under Section 47(1) of the Telecommunications Act, 2053. The inspections and inquiries confirmed that these companies were acting against the conditions mentioned in their licenses.
Reasons for Penalties
Spokesperson of the authority, Min Prasad Aryal, explained that some providers were creating new packages without permission. They also failed to tell customers about these changes in time and ignored the orders given by the authority. Charging more than the fixed rates and not providing internet as promised were the main reasons for this action. The authority believes that these activities are against the interest of the public, and they are doing this to protect consumer rights.
Companies Facing Fines
The list of companies that got fined includes Broadlink Network and Communication Pvt. Ltd, Classic Tech Pvt. Ltd, Web Surfer Nepal Communication System Pvt. Ltd, Fiberworld Communication Pvt. Ltd, Vianet Communications Limited, Aronet Pvt. Ltd, and Dish Media Network Limited. Along with them, WiFi Nepal Pvt. Ltd, CG Communication Limited, Worldlink Communications Limited, First Link Communication Pvt. Ltd, Pokhara Internet Pvt. Ltd, Techminds Network Limited, and Subisu Limited have also been asked to pay Rs. 50,000 each.
Orders to Stop Unauthorized Packages
The authority has ordered all providers to immediately stop any internet packages and fee structures that were not approved. They must also inform the authority about these changes. If any customer suffered any loss because of these unauthorized activities, the companies are responsible to provide compensation or fix the damages based on the customer request.
Rules state that service providers must submit their proposed rates to the authority at least three months before they start. Some companies were found not following this rule. The authority has warned everyone to get approval before launching any new service or changing fees in the future. They also mentioned that they have not allowed any price hikes. Previously on Ashoj 24, the authority clearly stated that they did not receive any proposal for increasing prices and did not give any permission for the same.
AI Disclaimer: This article was originally published on https://bajarkochirfar.com. It has been translated with the help of AI. For the best understanding and accurate facts, we recommend reading the original Nepali version.
