Phone Services Shut-Down in Nepal Again

Yet again, mobile phone services in Nepal have been cut by the Royalist government. The mobile services in the Kathmandu valley from Nepal Telecom (NT) and Mero Mobile, along with the CDMA limited mobility service from United Telecom Ltd (UTL) have all been suspended. The authorities have been disconnecting mobile telephones in the past to spoil opposition rallies. Even following the decision of the absolute monarch, King Gyanendra to return the country to democracy, there have still been protests against the King, primarily at his determination to retain control of the military.

Talking to The Himalayan Times, Sugat Ratna Kansakar, managing director of NT said, "We have been told by the government to stop the mobile services this afternoon." He, however, could not specify the exact duration for which the service has been discontinued.

This is the second time within the past last two weeks that mobile phone services have been discontinued in the Kathmandu valley. The first time they were suspended from April 7-13 and only restored following protests from Nepal Telecom workers."

Posted to the site on 24th April 2006