Universal Connectivity Project (Phase I)

This project is funded by the Ford Foundation, South Asia Regional Office. On the appropriate model for embarking on to achieve Universal Connectivity (UC) one may, for instance, explore the feasibility of a hybrid-technology,...

Connected Futures: Framing Interventions to Universal Connectivity in Nepal (Phase-1)

This project is funded by the Ford Foundation, South Asia Regional Office.

On the appropriate model for embarking on to achieve Universal Connectivity (UC) one may, for instance, explore the feasibility of a hybrid-technology, mixed-ownership and collaborative partnerships for a diverse country like Nepal, instead of the existing euphoric rush to allegedly state-of-the-art, single-type, singly-driven, monolithic architecture connectivity. Content generation, knowledge sharing and affordability are some common concern of the popular ‘information society’ and ’knowledge society’ narratives. Internet-technology and society interactions immediately bring to the fore associations such as ‘speed, penetration and cost’ and ‘local content, internet infrastructure and affordability’.

The transforming potential the internet based technologies (IBTs) may be realized depending on Nepal’s capability to administer them. Hence, this research assesses the extent of use/access (temporal, social and geographical variations), infrastructure (energy and quality-of-service) and governance (policy and practice) of the internet and internet based technologies (IBTs). A pluralistic vision of ‘knowledge societies’ which offer better alternative to a definite ‘knowledge society’ ambitions needs to be reflected in the policy actions. The path forward lies in formulating evidence based UC policies while openly acknowledging the limitations of the technologies in mainstreaming the marginalized and vulnerable section of the population.

'Framing Interventions to Universal Connectivity in Nepal' is a two-year (April 2014 - 2016) research and policy intervention on the possible pathways to Universal Connectivity (UC) in Nepal funded by the Ford Foundation (http://www.fordfoundation.org/), South Asia Regional Office. The research consists of field assessment, policy reviews, stakeholder interviews, technological surveys and historical analysis of the Internet-based technologies. The field research includes a household questionnaire survey, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, case-studies and ethnography of the institutions and actors involved in the Internet construction, maintenance and use.

Articles in Media

Research Sites

Changunarayan

Partner Institution: Pragatisheel Mahila Samaj

Changunarayan municipality is located 19.1 km. from the Kathmandu city and is most famous for the Changunarayan temple situated at the hill-top. The location provides a rich cultural experience with hiking routes to Nagarkot, a popular destination for national and international visitors. The municipality and the selected sites are a vibrant composition of mainly Tamang, Newar and Brahmah-hill residents.

Dapcha-Chatrebanjh

Partner Institution: Nasancha Pucha:

Dapcha Chhatrebanjh is situated 35 km. south-east from the district headquarters of Kavrepalanchowk. A way to reach the town is to take a linking road (Kavre bhanjyang and Kavre bhanjyang Dapcha road) at the 8 km. point of the B.P highway. Tamang, Newar and Brahman communities make up the population of the VDC who are mostly involved in agriculture. The number of people abroad to seek employment is also significant. The town does not have a cyber-cafe or a newspaper-magazine shop.

Panauti

Partner Institution: Nasancha Pucha:

Panauti is an important city in the Kavrepalanchowk district situated at 32 km. south-east of the Kathmandu city. Panauti municipality exhibits diverse ethnicities but the city is largely a majority of the Newari households. Agriculture and related businesses can be seen as the major sources of income for the residents. The city is a unique mixture of the use of modern day technologies whilst deeply drenched in the cultural heritage that dates back a long period. The residents claim initiatives have been taken to bring Panauti to the economic levels of Banepa and Dhulikhel.

Pragatinagar

Facilitator: Bhagwati Gautam

This is a new settlement beside the Manohara river situated 200m north from the Jadibuti Bridge in the Araniko highway. This settlement houses people from all over Nepal including India with diverse ethnicities. Most family relies on daily wages and many households have someone abroad for employment. The settlement started with basic huts made from temporary material with corrugate iron roofing but a lot of them have now moved to a semi-permanent building construction. The school is one of the few multi-storey buildings in the area.

Tangting

Partner Institution: Himalaya Milan Secondary School

Tangting is a village situated in the south of the Annapurna conservation area project (ACAP). Tangting falls within the Namarjung VDC which is situated 24 km. North-East of Pokhara, a difficult terrain in the lap of Annapurna-II and Lamjung mountains. The terrain provides attractive routes for trekking tourism from home and abroad. Most of the households have somebody abroad for employment opportunities. The male population has aspirations of being in the army abroad which dates back to the First World War.

Discussions

Old Village, New Technology: Inequalities in Access and Use of Internet in a Himalayan Village-Tangting (20 March 2016) - Arjun Panthi, Researcher, Martin Chautari
Status of "Digital Nepal": Findings on Nepali Internet Access and Use (22 December 2015) - Shailesh Pandey, Researcher, Martin Chautari
Issues Related to Online Media Regulation in Nepal (11 August 2015) - Borna Bahadur Karki, Coordinator, Online Media Management Suggestion Committee, and Ameet Dhakal, Editor-in-chief, Setopati
Earthquake: Resilience Analysis of Telecom Infrastructures and Lesson Learnt (14 July 2015) - Shaligram Parajuli, Senior Engineer, Nepal Telecom and Birodh Rijal, ICT Researcher
Current Trends of Cyber Crime in Nepal (3 April 2015) - Naresh Bahadur Malla, DSP, Central Bureau of Investigation
State and Dynamics of Internet Connectivity in Nepal (20 February 2015) – MC Researchers
The Freedom in the Software Domain: Free and Open Source Software in Nepal (19 Dec 2014) - Hempal Shrestha, FOSS Solutions: A Knowledge Collaboration Enterprise
Visions of Nepali Information Technology Policies (12 September 2014) – Harsha Man Maharjan, Researcher, Martin Chautari
Present State of E-commerce in Nepal and Its Challenges (8 August 2014) - Niranjan Shrestha, Muncha.com, and Manish Shrestha, Bhatbhatenionline.com
Relationship between Democracy and Technology: Myth and Reality of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) (14 July 2014), Santa Bahadur Basnet and Shailesh Pandey, Centre for Research in Social Defense Technology (CRSDT)-Nepal Engineering College; Birodh Rijal, Prabidhi Institute; and Yogesh Raj, Martin Chautari
Nepal Telecom: Evolution of Service and Technology Infrastructure (11 July 2014) - Saligram Parajuli, Senior Engineer, Nepal Doorsanchar Company Ltd.
Information Technology Policies and Roadmaps of Nepal (6 June 2014) – Presenter: Subash Dhakal, Director, Department of Information Technology, Government of Nepal; Commentator: Anup Banskota, Assistant Professor, Kathmandu University