NTA to expand internet services along ABC, EBC Kathmandu, February 8 Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) announced today its plan to expand internet facility to Everest Base Camp (EBC) and Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) to facilitate trekkers. Digambar Jha, chairman of NTA, informed that NTA would soon begin expanding internet services to EBC and ABC trekking routes for the safety of trekkers and promotion of Nepal’s tourism. “Availability of internet facility in these trekking routes will facilitate trekkers in receiving regular weather forecasts of different places, which will help reduce possible accidents that occur due to bad weather,” Jha said, adding that NTA will expedite the process of expanding internet facility along these two routes. In October 2014, a snowstorm and series of avalanches had hit ABC, killing dozens of Nepali and foreign trekkers. NTA believes that availability of internet in such trekking routes will deliver accurate weather forecasts and reduce risks of such accidents. “Availability of internet in ABC and EBC will not only ensure trekkers’ safety, but also promote ABC and EBC as one of the best tourism and trekking destinations in the world,” added Jha. He also said NTA would bear the operation and maintenance cost of internet services in the routes. Meanwhile, Purshottam Khanal, director of NTA, informed that a Japanese group has shown interest to lay optical fibre along the trekking routes in coordination with NTA. He said NTA has, however, not yet taken any decision regarding the same. “Many countries have expressed concerns over the unfortunate incident of 2014 in ABC and they are willing to work closely with NTA to take internet facility to ABC and EBC trekking routes,” Khanal said. He further said that NTA is yet to develop concrete working modality for the planned expansion of internet service. “Even if implementing the plans with a partner does not materialise, NTA will lay optical fibre on its own along ABC and EBC trekking routes by utilising Rural Telecommunication Development Fund (RTDF) as internet services in these routes is crucial,” Khanal added. Karna Bahadur Lama, general secretary of Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN), said that availability of internet and good telecommunication network along ABC and EBC would be a boon for trekkers in these two routes and also benefit the country’s tourism. “With the internet service in ABC and EBC, information-sharing regarding weather and other factors will be timely and effective. This will minimise accident risks,” said Lama.