ICT gets a budget of Rs 5.93 billion

Kathmandu: The government has allocated a total of Rs 5.093 billion for the information and communications sector for the upcoming fiscal year, prioritising telecommunications, social media regulation, secure printing, and public welfare advertisements.

In the budget (income and expenditure estimates) for the FY 2026/27 presented today, the government has announced structural reforms in the information and communications sector, expansion of digital infrastructure and increased access to communication services.

The government has announced that it will submit a bill related to the Telecommunications Authority to the parliament within the coming year to revise the regulatory structure of the telecommunications sector.

According to the budget statement, access to quality telecommunications services will be expanded by accelerating the use of the latest technology. Priority has been given to quality telephone services and network expansion in Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces, which are particularly affected by geographical remoteness and weak network problems.

Along with information and communication infrastructure, a restructuring of the government printing system has also been announced. The government plans to establish a security printing agency by integrating the government printing structures currently operating through various agencies.

The government has come up with a policy to encourage the expansion of commercial activities through registered social media platforms in Nepal.

To strengthen the economy of the media, the government has allocated Rs 330 million for public welfare advertisements to be circulated through print and electronic media.

RSS