KATHMANDU: Nepal’s Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have defied Nepal Telecommunication Authority’s (NTA) directives to continue the service of the customers even if the customers are not able to pay during lockdown.

Issuing a notice on Thursday, the Authority had ordered to ensure the service during lockdown even if the customers are unable to pay the charge.

However, the chairperson of Internet Service Providers Association, Bhoj Raj Bhatta has expressed the Association’s inability to do so saying the service provider has to pay the higher authority the charge of the time as well.

Writing a letter to the Authority, the internet provider’s association has said that it can not do as sought by authority to all customers, rather it would prolong the payment period only for the invalids.

The association has explained that the service providers had to pay the charge to the higher authority on time irrespective of the services it provides to the customers.

The association has claimed that it has been bearing extra pressure to continue the service in such critical condition set by pandemic outbreak and lockdown.

The internet service providers argue that the excessive use of internet and extra pressure to the service providers has increased the financial burden to the internet service providers.

Although the Association has claimed all its customers are used to digital payment, most of the customers are not much used to digital payment and seek the regulatory authority to ensure uninterrupted internet service in these difficult days.