Ncell found broadcasting TV channels illegally through its platform

KATHMANDU: Ncell, Nepal’s largest private sector telecom company, has been found broadcasting TV channels without taking permission from the concerned authority.

At a time when the Department of Information and Broadcasting under the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology has been taking an initiative to close all the OTT platforms operating illegally in Nepal, Ncell has also been found involved in this illegal trade.

The Ncell in its notice said that one can watch Indian TV channels among other videos through its platform. According to the notice, Ncell has been selling foreign video content through two packages.

The largest mobile operator in Nepal has put an offer to watch the video content of Shemaroo, an Indian digital company, in its first package. In its second package, the Ncell said that one can watch TV programmes of SonyLiv and other content available on GFS Arena, a digital platform of Nepal.

According to the information provided by Ncell on its website, all the TV shows of SonyLiv, web series, live sports, films and international content are available on the platform. The company said that after becoming a customer, five people can watch the Sonyliv content by creating five profiles.

A source at the Ministry of Communication of Information Technology said that Ncell is a mobile service provider and it cannot broadcast TV channels.

According to an existing law, one has to take permission from the concerned authority before broadcasting the TV channels. But the Ncell has not taken a license from the government to broadcast the TV channels. It has been found that Ncell has not paid tax to the government for broadcasting TV channels on its platform.

Gogan Bahadur Hamal, Director General of the Department of Information and Broadcasting, said that the government would take action against the Ncell if it is found involved in this illegal business.

Baikuntha Aryal, Secretary at the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, said that they have got the information that the Ncell has illegally been broadcasting TV channels through  its platform.