Nepal rebuilds telecoms after deadly floods
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Following devastating floods in the Himalayan mountains, Nepal is reassessing its emergency communications systems.
The recent floods caused over $4.5 billion in damage and left many people unable to contact family or rescuers for days. Mudslides destroyed mobile phone towers and kilometers of fiber optic cable along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers, delaying the restoration of service and complicating rescue efforts.
Binod Shrestha, Deputy Director of the Nepal Telecommunications Authority, stated that the disaster revealed gaps in the country’s emergency response planning. Currently, Nepal relies on SMS alerts, but lacks a system to warn people when there is no network access. To improve future responses, officials are considering expanding satellite technology as a backup solution. Shrestha proposed allowing companies like Starlink, owned by Elon Musk, to invest in Nepal’s telecommunications infrastructure.
Current laws limit foreign direct investment to 80%, requiring them to work through local operators. DishHome, a local internet provider, recently partnered with Eutelsat, a European satellite company, to utilize its satellite network after the floods.
