NTA To Conduct Revenue Assurance Audit of Mobile and Internet Service Providers Through Third-Party Experts
कात्तिक २१, २०८२ १३:१५
Kathmandu: The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) is set to conduct a revenue assurance audit of mobile and internet service providers through third-party experts. Although the financial statements of these companies were previously reviewed on a limited scale, this time the authority plans to carry out a comprehensive and systematic audit by appointing independent experts.
The audit will examine the entire revenue flow of telecom and internet service providers, from income generation to expenditure. The telecommunications sector has long been one of the largest sources of government revenue. However, as companies face financial strain due to a steady decline in income in recent years, the authority has decided to step in with a detailed audit.
NTA Director and Spokesperson Min Prasad Aryal said that a study will be conducted through third-party experts to review the income and expenditure patterns of telecom and internet service providers. “Earlier, such audits were done on a small scale. This time, we are conducting a revenue assurance audit through an expert team. Once the scope and modalities are finalized in the terms of reference (TOR), the process will begin,” Aryal told TechPana.
He added, “The audit will focus on how service providers earn and spend their income. This will help us understand the overall pattern of income and expenditure.”
The audit will be a systematic assessment of the revenue processes of telecom and internet providers to ensure that billing is accurate and that all collected income and expenditure are properly recorded in their accounting systems. The NTA expects this process to help identify and prevent revenue leakage while improving financial transparency.
Officials believe the audit will help detect system weaknesses, procedural errors, and unreported income, enabling service providers to ensure compliance and maximize profits.
The NTA has observed that challenges in the telecom business are increasing as mobile (voice) service revenue continues to decline. To address this, the authority plans to introduce regulatory tools that help service providers stabilize and increase their income levels.
According to NTA records, the total annual income of telecom service providers in the fiscal year 2076/77 was Rs 81.2 billion. Within five years, by fiscal year 2080/81, this had dropped by 16 percent to Rs 68.11 billion, a decline of Rs 13 billion.
In contrast, the income of internet and network service providers has steadily increased. Their total revenue rose from Rs 11.36 billion in 2076/77 to Rs 21.94 billion in 2080/81, an increase of 93 percent.
Voice service providers have attributed their falling revenue to the growing use of over-the-top (OTT) platforms such as Messenger, WhatsApp, and Viber for calls and messaging. Telecom operators have also called for reforms, saying that about 60 percent of their total revenue is spent on taxes under various headings.
पछिल्लो अध्यावधिक: कात्तिक २१, २०८२ १३:१५
