Nepal

http://www.nta.gov.np/files/Wireless_Broadband_Master_Plan_Nepal-EV4.pdf

National position on bands suitable for consideration for IMT under WRC-15 agenda item 1.1:

Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) (www.nta.gov.np/en) has allocated spectrum in the 2.3 GHz and 3.3 GHz range for offering WiMax voice and data services. In 2011 the Radio Frequency Policy Determination Committee under the Ministry of Information and Communications (MoIC) had decided to auction spectrum for WiMAX services to two telecom operators including state-owned Nepal Telecom (NT) and to Internet Service Provider (ISP’s). However, in August 2012 Nepal’s planned auction of wireless spectrum for WiMAX was postponed indefinitely.

The private telecom sector operators and the ISP’s had been eager to get spectrum through the auction to allow them to compete with the state-owned NT but they will have to wait. The ISP’s will be allowed to offer only data service.

In the meantime, state-owned Nepal Telecom (NT) has been assigned a 30MHz block of spectrum in the 2.3 – 2.4 GHz range to offer WiMAX services and will start to offer this service by the end of November, 2012 in the Kathmandu valley. NT also plans to set up 200 towers in eastern Nepal to offer this service on a country-wide basis.

It appears at this time that licenses will eventually be auctioned off to telecom operators and to ISP’s in the 3.3 GHz range.