KATHMANDU, Dec 8: Nepal Telecom Authority (NTA) has cancelled the process of launching Nepal’s own satellite that had begun four years back.

The NTA’s move follows the formulation of a new satellite policy at home. The NTA said the formulation of the policy prompted to cancel the Expression of Interest for launching satellite. NTA spokesperson Meen Prasad Aryal said a new process would begin in line with the new policy.

The new policy requires the implementation of required laws and operation modality separately.

The Authority is prepared to call for international consultants to go with a new process. The new satellite policy promises to launch Nepal’s own satellite by 2022. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) had permitted Nepal to install the satellite on 123/3 east longitude positions.

A study team formed by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology came up with the conclusion that the positions allowed by the ITU were not appropriate for positioning the satellite.

The committee recommended 80 to 89 degrees east longitude as the suitable locations for launching the satellite.

The NTA had received the Expression of Interest from 22 companies of 12 countries.