Means of Communication in Nepal

Means of Communication in Nepal:

1. Postal Service: The Postal Service is the oldest and most used service by the public. There are 3994 post offices, including 4 central offices, 4 regional postal directorates, 70 district postal offices, 842 area post offices, and 3074 support post offices.

Expressed Mail Service has also been started in 35 foreign countries. The department of postal services has provided more than 17500 post boxes. Besides, it publishes postal tickets and operates a postal saving bank, money orders, and electronic postal services, etc.

2. Telecommunication: There has been rapid development in the telecommunication sector in Nepal because of the increase in service providers and service receivers and the introduction of the latest and high-tech telecom services in the country. As of mid-March 2020, telecom companies have distributed almost 40.58 million telephones.

3. Radio: Radio Nepal established in 1950 A.D. is the oldest mass communication electronic media with countrywide coverage. It services through the short wave and medium wave which has reached every nook and corner of the country. Radio Nepal has established FM relay centers at 4 different places to expand and extend its service. An agreement was signed with the government of Japan for financial assistance to upgrade and modernize its short wave and medium wave transmission and the job is in progress. It has medium wave broadcasting stations in all Five Development Regions of the country. By mid-March 2020, 1095 companies were issued licenses to broadcast various entertaining and informative programs using FM, out of which 672 are in operation.

4. Television: Television Service of Nepal Television, as a strong and effective electronic means of communications, is in regular operation in Nepal since 1984. At present, there are altogether 170 television channels with transmission licenses for TV broadcast services. However, only 51 television channels are in operation. Government-owned Nepal television, by virtue of its access to satellite, has coverage throughout the country and in foreign countries as well.

At present, 52 percent of the total area and 72.5 percent of people have the access to NTV. An agreement has been signed between Nepal television and Galaxy Television Limited, UK for the live broadcasting of NTV in the Gulf Countries, Europe, America, Australia, and Africa through a single cable network and direct to the home system. A total of 853 licenses have been issued to operate cable television services in the private sector.

5. Newspapers: Newspapers are the best sources of information and knowledge of any subject because these are well researched and written by professional experts in their fields.

By mid-March 2020 the number of newspapers registered in various districts of Nepal has reached 7,801. Among these 741 are daily, 39 bi-weekly, 2953 weekly, 474 fortnightly, 2342 monthly, 384 two monthly, 646 quarterly, 38 four monthly, 87 half yearly, and 93 annually.

6. Internet: It is very useful in research, education, marketing, live communication, health, entertainment, social networking, banking transaction, etc. The number of internet users in Nepal is rapidly increasing. There are more than 15 million internet users and 75% of the total population has access to the internet in Nepal.