KATHMANDU, OCT 02 -Experts on Tuesday underlined the need for increased local content on the internet , to capitalise on the global network and reap the benefits of exposure. The idea has come at a time when Nepal is failing to boost local content on the web, despite a remarkable growth in the nation’s internet connectivity.
Currently, it is estimated that over 90 percent of the content being accessed by Nepali internet users is being generated from sources outside of the country. Participants at the Asia Internet Symposium, held in the capital on Tuesday, have stated that the use of local web content helps to provide opportunities for entrepreneurship on a global level, and offers a platform that enables the sharing of knowledge and culture.
Nepali wikipedia, e-pustakalya and e-paath are some of the local content available on the internet . Participants said with Nepali being the main language, the content development in Nepali for internet resources would further push the demand for connectivity to increase.
Binay Bohara, president of the Internet Service Providers Association of Nepal said that expanding broadband infrastructure to a community level and utilising local content was equally important. “As the future is in mobiles, the government should push the development of local content, so that the users can access information through handsets.”
Som Lal Subdedi, secretary at the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment said since the government had been focusing on e-governance, local internet content was important. “We are ready to work together for the development with the private sector to this front.”
Low connectivity rate, slow internet speed and high costs are some of the challenges faced in the development and utilisation of local content. Sudhir Pradhananga, president of Free/Open Source Software, Nepal, said that with the government focusing on introducing broadband connectivity in schools, there was also a huge possibility of generating local educational content, mobilising teachers and schools. “For the lack of local content, many tele-centres have been closed,” said Pradhananga.
Experts from the Asia-Pacific Regional Bureau of Internet Society, India and Nepal had discussed the prospects and challenges facing the development of local web content in the programme. Osama Manzar, who played a major role in developing local content for rural areas in his native India, said that local content on the net could be a valuable tool to promote traditional skill-based entrepreneurship in the world market and benefit from the exposure.
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