How Nepal Telecom WiMax can increase internet user in Nepal

WiMAX is the fourth generation of communication system which consists very high speed internet service at low cost. Nepal telecom (NT) is preparing to introduce WiMAX technology for the first time in Nepal. According to the spokesperson of Nepal Telecom, “Telecom is very near to start WiMAX technology in Nepal”. Customers of Kathmandu valley can experience WiMAX before the Dashain festival. The fifteen BTS towers are already been set up by Nepal telecom. “The final test will be done between the Dashain and Tihar festival and will be soon started professionally” said the spokesperson.

How WiMAX is different than current WIFI system in Nepal

We have two options now: Wifi or WiMAX? Certainly, they both are initially designed for different purposes. Wifi tends to provide Internet service within closed area to the WiFi access point whereas WiMAX is more powerful and broad version of WiFi which provides Internet Service to the broad area. Here are the key differences:

a) Coverage:

Wifi and WiMAX coverage differences are best understood comparing them with Cordless phone and mobile phones. Wifi, like a cordless phone works without wire but in a limited small area which means less coverage. WiMAX, on the other hand being mobile phone provides connection to a significantly greater distance. Wifi supports transmission ranges up to a few hundred meters whereas WiMAX could support range up to 30 miles.

b) Quality of Service:

WiMAX also has some benefits over Wifi in terms of connection quality. Users are actually battling for connection whereas in wimax each user gets a constant allotment of broadband access. Broadlink and Wordlink operates wifi network which might be resulting in the above problem. Users can experience varying levels of broadband width resulting in the fluctuation of speed whereas user will have quality constant bandwidth thus the constant and quality service with NTC Wimax.

c) Speed:

Comparing the speed of Broadlink and Worldlink WiFi’s and NTC WiMAX certainly the WiMAX users will experience better and constant speed. Like mentioned earlier there will be a huge fluctuation in the speed of WiFi whereas each individual user will get the constant bandwidth in WiMAX resulting the constant and fastest Internet service compared to WiFi.

Nepal Telecom plan on WiMAX

Telecom aims to provide WiMAX internet connection to all of the village development committees (V.D.C), municipalities and major cities of Nepal within one year. This project cost is about 10 million dollars. The agreement between Nepal Telecom and US-based equipment manufacturer and network solution provider company Airspan collaborates to introduce WiMAX for the first time in Nepal. To use WiMAX you must have an CPE device. In the current Nepali market, three types of CPE are available. If you are in the range of one kilometer of the main tower then you can use the indoor CPE. If you are in the range of 2 to 4 kilometer then you have to install the low range outdoor CPE and if you are more than 4 kilometer range of the main BTS then you have to install the high range outdoor CPE to use the WiMAX internet service. NTC has already launch some big plan including installation of Google cache server, and increasing bandwidth for existing adsl user.

Costumers will get minimum speed of 256kbps, which is treated as broadband speed in Nepal. Telecom is establishing Core Network in Kathmandu and setting up 200 BTS towers in eastern Nepal and at the same time, establishing Core Network in Butwal for the Western Region which helps people of rural area to access internet easily. It was never been such easy for rural internet connection before. NTC claimed that WIMAX will be volume based. User can’t get unlimited service like exiting ADSL or WIFI service provide by existing various ISP.

Does WIMAX hampers other ISP of Nepal

Most of the other Internet service provider rely on WiFi technology. Most of the existing service provider like Broadlink, Worldlink use different device for WiFi connectivity to end user from BTS. Due to the various factor like Geographical location of country, the architectural of the building, noise between BTS, it is almost impossible to provide the perfect WiFi connection to the end user. Despite of good customer support of private ISP, many end user are not fully satisfied. WiMAX can help to fill those gaps. But the question lies on the customer support of NTC. Nepal telecom is never good at providing customer service. Their service are pathetic which may bound user to switch to WiMAX from their current WiFi connection. the user who is using WiFi also need to buy extra device for WiMAX. Unless people see strong benefit they don’t prefer to spend extra money to get new connection. NTC comes with pathetic volume base plan which is not useful for heavy internet user.

Final conclusion: WiMAX is a perfect option for the country like Nepal where fiber connection can’t be made accessible to every VDC. NTC must be revere for this decision. NTC doesn’t have a good history of providing good customer support. Thus, many people still raised the question about WiMAX. If NTC would able provide good service and support to the user and there would be involved of private ISP for providing WiMAX services, there would be huge development in Tele communication system of Nepal.

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