Nepal ISPAN granted extension for cleanup as pole fee recovery starts

The Internet Service Providers’ Association of Nepal (ISPAN) received a final 15‑day extension to complete the removal of tangled overhead utility wires and cables in the Kathmandu Valley after missing an earlier deadline. At a meeting of the Ministry of Information and Communications, ISPAN reported that about 58 % of work in six designated areas has been finished and that further activities are underway, with the minister urging the association to finish the task and explore shared infrastructure solutions. ISPAN chief executive Subas Khadka highlighted the need for a separate infrastructure company and noted challenges with the Nepal Electricity Authority’s underground works.

In a related development, the Nepal Electricity Authority resumed the collection of outstanding electricity pole rental fees. WorldLink Communications became the first provider to begin payments, covering dues for the 2025/26 fiscal year based on self‑declared pole usage and settling earlier arrears. Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha stressed that all service providers must comply with the law and that the process will be applied equally to everyone.