| Nepal’s Internet Crisis Worsens Amid Unpaid Dues and Govt Inaction
On February 2, Nepal faced a nationwide internet shutdown for nearly an hour, affecting millions. The crisis escalated as Indian provider Airtel reduced Nepal’s bandwidth over unpaid dues exceeding NPR 6 billion. Major ISPs, including WorldLink, CG Net, and DishHome, reported severe disruptions.
Internet Service Providers Association Nepal (ISPAN) blames the government for failing to approve foreign exchange payments, warning of a complete shutdown if urgent action is not taken. Nepal imports 70% of its internet bandwidth from India, but foreign payment restrictions and heavy taxation on ISPs have made operations unsustainable. Experts warn that continued blackouts could harm Nepal’s digital economy, deterring investors and crippling key sectors like e-commerce and banking. ISPAN urges immediate foreign payment approvals and policy reforms to prevent prolonged disruptions. Supreme Court Directs Govt on National ID Card Implementation
The Supreme Court (SC) has issued a three-point directive regarding the national identity card (NID) dispute. Advocate Ram Bahadur Raut and others had filed a writ petition on June 16, arguing that delays in issuing NIDs could deprive senior citizens of social security allowances. However, the SC rejected the writ on January 19, allowing NID issuance to proceed. The full bench, led by Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut, released its judgment on Friday, directing the government to take immediate action. The SC emphasized the need to enhance public awareness and expedite NID distribution by ensuring efficient collection of biometric data and eliminating difficulties in public service delivery. It also ordered the establishment of sufficient collection and distribution units to streamline the process. Additionally, the court stressed the importance of data security, instructing the government to conduct security audits and implement policies to protect personal information from unauthorized use. The ruling highlights the necessity of a secure and accessible NID system to improve governance and service delivery. Nepal Drafts National AI Policy: Seeks input from Stakeholders within 7 days
The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has drafted the National Artificial Intelligence Policy, 2081, aiming to promote AI development, encourage research, and regulate its use. The policy seeks to drive socio-economic transformation by integrating AI into sectors like education, health, transport, tourism, and finance while ensuring risk mitigation and ethical use. It also emphasizes improving governance, public service delivery, and fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.
Key provisions include the formation of an AI Regulatory Council, National AI Centre, and AI Excellence Centres to oversee AI development and implementation. The draft outlines goals to strengthen digital infrastructure, enhance data accessibility, and produce skilled AI professionals. The Ministry has invited public suggestions, providing 7 days of deadline. Interested individuals and organizations may submit input following the link above. Hashtag Campaign Against Social Media Regulation Bill Gains Momentum
A growing hashtag campaign has emerged in Nepal to protest a bill aimed at regulating social media. The movement has gained traction across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and X, with users voicing concerns that the bill infringes on freedom of speech and expression. Hashtags such as #BolnaDeSarkar, #LetUsSpeak, and #ReviseSocialMediaBill are being widely shared.
Prominent Nepali content creators, including YouTube channels like The Nepali Comment, In-Depth Story, and Project Kura, have also joined the protest, releasing videos criticizing the bill. Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah symbolically expressed his opposition through a protest song featuring lyrics like “Malai Bolna De Sarkar.” Former Education Minister Sumana Shrestha and other lawmakers have voiced concerns over the bill’s authoritarian provisions, including fines and penalties for social media use. Nepal Telecom to Discontinue 2G at 1800 MHz, Expands 4G and FTTH Services
Nepal Telecom (NT) has announced plans to discontinue its 2G services at 1800 MHz this year as part of its strategy to invest in new technologies and enhance service quality. The company is actively expanding 4G services, which now cover 744 local levels across 77 districts, with 4G VoLTE users surpassing 5.8 million. Nepal Telecom is also in the final stages of preparing for 5G, aligning with government directives for future implementation. With over 21.24 million subscribers and a 50.44% market share in voice services, NT remains Nepal’s leading telecom provider. Two Arrested for Cyber Fraud in Nepal Involving Fake Digital Arrest Threats
The Cyber Bureau of Nepal Police has arrested Manish Kumar Mehta and Indrajit Yadav from Sunsari for allegedly attempting to spread a digital arrest scam. The duo reportedly misused fake emails and the names of Nepal’s chief security officers to falsely threaten individuals with digital arrest. According to the preliminary investigation, the accused demanded money from victims by creating fear of digital arrest, using fraudulent communications that appeared to come from Nepal Police. Following victim complaints, the Cyber Bureau launched an investigation and arrested the suspects on February 2, and have been remanded in police custody for seven days. PCN Takes Action Against Media Outlets for Code of Conduct Violations
Press Council Nepal has blacklisted 10 media outlets for allegedly violating the code of conduct and initiated action against them. Four outlets were removed from the blacklist after they apologized and committed to following the rules. Additionally, six new outlets were added to the blacklist. The Council also issued warnings to social media platforms and five online media for spreading misleading or violent content, forwarding 54 YouTube channels and five Facebook pages to the Cyber Bureau of Nepal Police for investigation. | 
