2. Information and communication technology status
Table 2.4: ISPs in Nepal Situation at January 2000 Start-up Date
Subscribers
Staff
1
Worldlink
Name
1996
4’350
71
<http://www.wlink.com.np/>
2
Mercantile
1995
1’347
28
<http://www.mos.com.np/>
3
Computerland
1996
887
37
<http://www.ccsl.com.np/>
4
Capital Online
1999
650
68
<http://www.col.com.np/>
5
Unlimited Nu Media
Nov-99
555
28
<http://www.unlimit.com/>
6
Infocom
7
Everest Net
8
Himilayan
9
Global Internet Service*
10
Network Technologies*
11
HTP Communications* Nepal
Web site
1999
500
30
<http://www.info.com.np/>
Sep-99
373
17
<http://www.multinepal.com.np/>
Jul-99
190
22
<http://www.hons.com.np/>
8’852
301
<http://www.htp.com.np/>
Note: * These ISPs did not reply to an NTA questionnaire casting doubt on whether they were actually operational at January 2000. Source: ITU adapted from National Telecommunication Authority and ISP data.
between business subscribers and users can vary tremendously. For example, HealthNet is one subscriber but it has around 500 users. •
An estimate of 35’000 Internet users (including e-mail only) in Nepal at the end of 1999 seems reasonable, based on the consensus of various estimates and the mix of home/ business subscribers reported by the ISPs. A goal of 100’000 users by the year 2000 has been promoted by the i n d u s t r y. F i g u r e 2 . 5 s h o w s t h e growth in estimated users over the
The majority of users in Nepal are primarily utilizing e-mail rather than full-blown Internet services.
Figure 2.5: Internet users in Nepal Estimated Internet users by year, 1995-1999, and by Sector, May 1999
Source: Left chart: ITU estimates. Right chart: Network Startup Resource Center as reported by Dileep Agrawal, May 1999.
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