Text message alerts prove life saver in flood-hit Nepal

By Arun Karki

TADUWA, Nepal (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - It was a simple text message that saved Shreejana Pariyar from being washed to oblivion along with all her worldly goods when flash floods devastated western Nepal last week.

A day after the Babai river flooded her home in Taduwa village - carrying off everything but the beds and leaving a muddy mess in its wake - Pariyar delivered a baby son.

“I feel luck to be alive,” she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation, cradling her newborn on the porch of her home.

“The water swept away food, clothes, kitchen utensils and everything I kept inside, apart from the beds,” she added.

Ncell customers in flood and landslides affected districts send over 16.6m free SMS

Ncell customers in flood and landslides affected districts have sent over 16.6 million text messages, utilizing free SMS service provided by the company to ensure communications of customers.

The company, in a bid to support customers stay in touch during the time of natural disaster and contribute to rescue and relief operations, had provided 50 free SMS per day per customer. Free SMS service was made available to the customers residing in government defined 23 affected districts until Tuesday (August 15) as per directives of the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA).

Facebook turns to original TV content with new Watch tab

Facebook Inc.’s push toward original video content will take a big step forward Thursday with the launch of a new section, dubbed Watch, as reported by Market Watch.

The new tab, which Facebook FB, -0.03%   said late Wednesday will launch for a limited number of U.S. users for now, will feature about 40 original series, with plans to eventually scale up to hundreds of shows. Facebook said it will become available to more users in the coming weeks.

MoIC plans to implement merger policy within three months

What are the plans in telecommunications sector?

The government is working out formulate a merger and acquisition policy, allowing telecom companies to merge. The line ministry of the telecom sector, the Ministry of Information and Communications (MoIC) has said that the policy will come into effect within three months.

MoIC, unveiling its annual plan for the current fiscal year 2017/18 recently, said, “With objective to provide quality service by creating healthy competition environment in telecommunications sector, merger and acquisition related regulation will be taken approval and implemented within three months for a provision that allows operators provide service by merging with each other.”

Ncell provides Saapati of Rs 40

Prepaid customers can take the service by dialing *9988# when main balance drops to Rs 5 or less

There is a good news for Ncell pre-paid customers. Ncell has doubled the amount of Saapati to Rs 40 allowing customers to enjoy telecom services even as they are unable to top up balance due to various reason. Customers can simply dial *9988# and follow the instruction to take the Saapati.

Saapati has remained as one of the much-admired services of Ncell. The company increased the credit limit by increasing the credit limited under Saapati facility to Rs 40 recently to mark the 5th anniversary of successful operation of the service.

Ncell 4G/LTE reaches 17 cities

10 more cities connected with 4G

Leading private sector telecom company Ncell has expanded its fourth generation (4G)/long term evolution (LTE) service in 10 more cities, making the new high-speed mobile broadband service available in various cities. It has officially launched the service in the additional cities from Tuesday.

With this launched, Ncell’s 4G will now be accessible in a total of 17 cities of 14 districts. As per the company, the 10 cities that are getting connected with the service officially from Tuesday are Biratnagar, Birtamode, Damak, Dharan, Bharatpur, Hetauda, Birjung, Bhairahawa, Butwal and Nepalgunj. Customers have already started to take benefit from the service in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhakatapur, Banepa, Dhulikhel, Pokhara and Damauli.