Expectations versus reality: A case of internet in Nepal

Abstract

The relation between Internet and development rests on the preconditions of minimum access, quality, affordability and many more. Presenting the picture of access, quality, and affordability, we raise doubts that Nepali internet infrastructure in its present form has any contribution to economic development. The Nepali policy circle also has felt the necessity of proliferating Internet access and use. But we argue major targets of the Nepali ICT policies are detached from the reality and hence failure prone. The formulation of a robust ICT policy cannot bypass the analyses of actualities of the demand side. There is a dearth of detailed statistics of ICT access, use, and affordability in Nepal. We thus recommend the government should conduct a census of ICT access, use, and affordability that would help the formulation of more grounded policies.