Internet services disrupted in Nepal, bandwidth restriction by Indian company

KATHMANDU: Internet services in Nepal have experienced widespread disruption since Thursday afternoon, with reports indicating a significant impact across the country.

The cause of this disruption, according to internet service providers, appears to be linked to actions taken by the Indian telecommunications giant, Airtel, which has reportedly restricted bandwidth.

Reports from various regions of Nepal suggest varying degrees of disruption, with some areas experiencing complete shutdowns.

An official from the Internet Service Provider Association of Nepal shed light on the situation, explaining that the problem emerged following Airtel’s decision to limit bandwidth allocation from India.

Airtel has been a major provider of internet bandwidth to Nepal, accounting for approximately 80 percent of the country’s total bandwidth supply.

However, recent disputes over outstanding dues have strained relations between the company and Nepali authorities.

The situation underscores the critical reliance of Nepal’s internet infrastructure on external providers and the potential vulnerabilities associated with such dependencies.

As the disruption continues to impact businesses, educational institutions, and daily life, stakeholders are urged to seek resolution to the underlying issues swiftly to restore normalcy to internet services across the country.