KATHMANDU: Telecom service providers in Nepal have deactivated access to unregistered social networking platforms following a government directive.
Both Nepal Telecom and Ncell confirmed the action was taken after receiving a formal notice from the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA).
Nepal Telecom stated that it has temporarily blocked access to such platforms in accordance with the NTA’s letter, which directed all operators to deactivate social networks not officially registered in Nepal.
The company clarified that this move complies with the Supreme Court’s order, the decision of the Council of Ministers, and a ministerial decision issued by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.
Likewise, Ncell has also confirmed the deactivation of unregistered social networks on its network, stating that it is following the same directive issued by the Authority.
The NTA had issued a letter on Thursday instructing telecom providers to deactivate access to 26 unregistered social media platforms. While the list includes popular platforms such as Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, YouTube, and WhatsApp, the implementation details remain unclear, particularly given the widespread use of these services in Nepal.
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