The government said it is working on reducing data charges in the country through three key proposals. This was shared at the Meet the Press session today. According to the GovTech Agency, discussions are currently ongoing on these proposals, which are categorised into short-term, mid-term, and long-term plans.
A technical committee, led by the Government Technology Agency or GovTech Agency in collaboration with the government, is working on the proposals.
The GovTech Agency said that they have held numerous consultations with relevant stakeholders and are currently discussing the three proposals.
According to Cheki Dorji, the deputy executive engineer of the agency, the short-term proposal aims to reduce data charges by 50 per cent. Its impact on service quality and revenue implications for operators will also be considered.
“In the mid-term proposal, we are looking at consolidating all the international internet bandwidth that is exiting our country. So through this approach, we plan to reduce the internet charges at the source that is coming into the country through the means of economic soft skills. Because if you have huge volume, you can reduce the prices at the source.”
He further stated that the long-term proposal focuses on consolidating all infrastructure in the country and investing in telecommunications and federal infrastructure. The goal is to provide affordable, high-speed internet through home connections, thereby reducing congestion on mobile networks.
Meanwhile, the prime minister said that efforts to reduce data charges in the country are progressing well. He added that lowering data costs would require negotiations with India, from where the data is imported. He further added that he would personally lead these negotiations.
Reducing data charges by 50 percent or making them equivalent to rates in India is one of the pledges of the government.
Sonam Yuden
Edited by Kipchu
