Laptops can now go online anywhere

KATHMANDU, Jan 10 – Laptop users can now browse the net without connecting their notebooks to the phone or broadband lines, as Nepal Telecom (NT) is commercially launching PCMCIA cards in the local market from Wednesday. Desktop computer users, however, will have to wait for some more time to avail the service as NT is still in the process of acquiring similar cards for PCs. “The wireless cards, which will cost Rs 8,888 per unit, will be introduced at CAN Info-Tech being held at BICC of New Baneshwor from tomorrow,” Pratima Pradhan, deputy manager of Wireless Division of NT said. Introduction of this kind of wireless internet service is expected to create a revolution in the IT sector, as laptop users can now go online, browse the Internet, and send and receive facsimile messages even from places that lack access to telephone lines. “Using the cards, clients can download data at a speed of up to 163.4kbps and the cost of downloading data has been fixed at 25 paisa per 100KB,” Pradhan said. According to her, the service is currently available in pre-paid form and clients can recharge the accounts using pre-paid recharge cards available in various outlets of NT. “The cards are available in denominations of Rs 200, Rs 500 and Rs 1,000, which will expire in 60 days, 180 days and 720 days, respectively,” she said. The state-owned telecom plans to introduce 300 units of such cards in the first phase, and the  ‘number of which will be increased on the basis of demand’.

BY RUPAK D SHARMA