KATHMANDU, Oct 12: In a recent meeting, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the House of Representatives has recommended postponing the deployment of the 'Telecommunication Traffic Monitoring and Fraud Control System' (TERAMOCS) technology.
During the meeting, the committee urged the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology and the Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) to refrain from making hasty decisions. It was agreed that further discussions were needed, particularly regarding the sale of Smart Telecom's telecommunication license and the implementation of the Rural Telecommunication Fund.
The NTA had been preparing to implement the TERAMOCS, aimed at monitoring telecommunications traffic and network activities of service providers to prevent fraud. The NTA has asserted that TERAMOCS will be instrumental in curbing fraudulent calls and enhancing the quality of telecommunication services.
Furthermore, the NTA stated that the system's installation would lead to better consumer protection and revenue preservation. Arjun Narsingh KC, a member of parliament from the Nepali Congress, emphasized the importance of regulatory bodies vigilantly overseeing the quality of services delivered by telecommunication service providers. He stated, "Telecommunication service providers charge fees for their services, and the telecommunication authority should monitor the validity of these charges. Communication services are essential, and the promotion of rural telecommunication should move beyond mere slogans to achieve true effectiveness."
Gokul Baskota, a CPN-UML member of parliament, called for a technical audit to assess the quality of services received by consumers from these providers. He stressed that regulatory bodies have a crucial role in overseeing telecommunication services, ensuring their quality and efficiency.
Additionally, Rajendra Lingden, a member of parliament from the RPP, raised a question about the decline in the revenue of telecommunication service providers, despite a consistent increase in the number of consumers using mobile and internet services. His curiosity centered on understanding the reasons behind this unexpected trend.