The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has revoked the license of Nepal Satellite Telecom owned by Ajey Raj Sumargi.
The board meeting of NTA on Sunday has decided to revoke license of the company acquired to operate Hello Nepal mobile service, according to NTA Chairman Purushottam Khanal.
Khanal revealed that the license has been revoked as the company could not pay Rs 800 million for royalty and renewal fee within stipulated time.
The NTA earlier had given the company a final deadline of mid-June to pay the amount. The NTA had then extended the deadline till August 18 and decided that the company's license would be revoked if the amount were not paid even by then.
The company had received license in March 2008 to provide service in the rural sector. It has been providing service in the mid-western and far western regions. The company, that was licensed to provide service even inside the Kathmandu Valley, had not invested much on expansion of services in recent times.
The company can appeal with the government within 35 days of revocation of the license. The government reserves the rights of allowing Sumargi's company to retain the license.