IT Policy and Development

IT Policy Development in Nepal

• Introduce Computer in 2028 BS
• Establishment of High Level Commission for Information Technology (HLCIT) in 2051 BS and terminated by Prime minister Baburam Bhattarai
• Establishment of National Information Technology Center (NITC) in 2059
• IT Policy 2057
• IT Policy 2067
• IT Policy 2072

Introduction of HLCIT

High Level Commission for Information Technology (HLCIT) is an apex body formed under the chairmanship of Rt. Hon. Prime Minister of Nepal with a view to providing crucial strategic direction and helping formulate appropriate policy responses for the development of ICT sector in the country as well as harnessing these technologies to meet key developmental challenges including governance reform and catalyzing economic growth for poverty reduction. The government of Nepal strongly believes that its efforts in macro economic and governance reform arena stand to benefit immensely from proper harnessing of recent advances in the technological domain notably, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). The fact remains however that the technologies on their own devoid of enabling institutional, policy, and regulatory environment will fall short of producing intended developmental outcomes. This clearly defines the context within which National IT Policy and Strategy of the Government of Nepal was announced in the year 2000. These policy provisions lay down a comprehensive framework for the development of IT sector in the country. Among others, the policy envisages the creation of a number of high level institutional entities to provide a direction and leadership for the development of ICT sector in the country.

Functions and Duties of National Information Technology Center

• To implement information communication technology related plans and policies.
• To assist Nepal Government in all forms of computer related tasks.
• To design and launch websites for all Government organizations, and assist in timely manner in maintaining and operating of the same
• To administer the development of required coding and standards to engender uniformity in information technology, abide by the same and put it into operation.
• To assist in research and development of information communication technology in the country.

Telecom History

• A line between Kathmandu and the Indian border was opened in 1914
• Major growth in telecom sector in Nepal has occurred after 1995 with World Bank Assistance.
• An important milestone was reached in 1999 when tele-density reached one line per 100 inhabitants
• Nepal’s pioneer telecommunication’s operator Nepal Telecom has made significant progress in the growth and development of the national public switched telecommunications network (PSTN) during Nepal’s Fifth Phase Telecom Project (1992 97).
• Until few years back monopoly of state owned Nepal Telecom (NTC) in all types of telecom service
• NTC also started providing GSM mobile service from May 1999
• United Telecom Ltd. (UTL) is providing Wireless Local Loop based telecom service inside Kathmandu Valley and other few cities
• Spice Nepal (P) Ltd. is providing cellular mobile telephone connections based on GSM from Mid September 2005 inside Kathmandu Valley and other major cities

History of Internet

• The Internet was first introduced into Nepal in 1993 in a venture of the erstwhile Royal Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (RONAST) and Mercantile Office Systems (MOS).
• Now almost all big cities have Internet facilities with local ISP

IT Policies

• IT Policy of Nepal (2057/2067)
• IT Policy of Nepal (2015)
• NRB Guidelines
• NRB IT Policies
• Electronic Transaction Act