January 14: Nepal Telecom (NT) started using internet service from China, ending its dependency on India for the service, with the official inauguration of the cross-border optical fiber link on January 12 for the commercial use.

Nepal is now linked with the Chinese internet service through cable network via Rasuwagadhi-Jilong Gateway.

Nepal Telecom and China Telecom Global Limited (CTG) had signed an agreement to operate the link in December, 2016, reads a joint statement issued by the two telecom companies.

So far, Nepal Telecom had been relying on internet service from operators like Bharti Airtel, Tata Communication and BSNL of India.

“The commencement of the Nepal China Cross Border Optical Fiber Link and the IP services over it is unprecedented, as it is a new direct alternative route for traffic demand generated from Nepal to all over the world, and which provides better quality of service and low latency solution for end users in Nepal,” reads the statement.

The Nepal China Cross Border Optical Fiber Link and the IP services was inaugurated amid a function held at the Nepal Telecom office, Kathmandu.

Inaugurating the service, Minister for Information and Communications Mohan Bahadur Basnet said, “Commercialization of Nepal-China Optical Fiber Link is a major milestone for development of Internet Infrastructure in Nepal.”

 He also stressed on excellent and growing relation between the two neighboring countries. He further said that the operation of Nepal-China direct cross-border link shall prove to be a turning point for Nepal.

Speaking on the occasion, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Yu Hong said that the cable will not only shorten the network latency, but also bring the two countries more closer to each other. She stated that the commercial operation of Nepal China Optical-fiber link marks a new connectivity between the two.