WorldLink Communications Limited, Nepal’s leading internet service provider, has shown eagerness to expand into the telecommunications sector.
Dileep Agarwal, Chairman and Managing Director of WorldLink, expressed the company’s readiness in an informal conversation following a recent investment agreement it signed with Finnfund.
The Finnish Fund for Industrial Cooperation (Finnfund) has made an equity investment of 10 million euros (around Rs 1.42 billion) in WorldLink Communications. The investment will be used to expand the existing fiber network and to build Worldlink’s first Tier 3 data center, according to the statement issued by the Finnish company.
Agrawal added that WorldLink is ready to venture into telecommunication, to be Nepal's third mobile network operator. Nepal's telecommunications sector is currently dominated by Nepal Telecom, a state-owned enterprise, and privately operated Ncell.
Read: Finnfund Makes 10 million Euro Equity Investment in Worldlink
The remark also comes after the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) renewed Worldlink’s Internet Service Provider (ISP) and Network Service Provider (NSP) licenses.
NTA’s Spokesperson Santosh Paudel confirmed that the worldlink’s ISP and NSP licences have been renewed, effective March 29, 2024 and August 3, 2024, respectively.
The renewal comes two weeks after Worldlink paid NTA Rs 2.15 billion to clear its outstanding dues related to royalty and Rural Telecommunications Development Fee (RTDF). The internet service provider said on Friday, November 15, that Rs 1.38 billion was paid as royalty and Rs 762.39 million as RTDF.
Read: Worldlink Pays NTA Rs 2.15 billion to Clear Royalty and RTDF Dues
The government has started Nepal exploring options for a third service provider, to foster market competition for the benefit of the consumers. Recently, the NTA formed a study committee, headed by Director Ambar Sthapit, which has already begun preparing a report to facilitate the entry of a third operator into the market.
“We have the necessary resources and expertise to operate in the telecom sector,” Agrawal added. “We believe we can replicate our internet-related success in mobile-related services.”
