Kathmandu, May 18 -- The private sector internet service providers on Friday slammed the Nepal Electricity Authority's (NEA) proposed hike in rental charges of utility poles, stating that the move will raise the cost of fixed broadband service by more than 50 percent.

Speaking at a programme organised by Tech Journos Forum on Friday, they also criticised the public utility for ignoring the government policy which envisions high speed internet service for users across the country at low prices.

According to them, utility poles owned by the NEA carry around 80 percent of the transmission cables related to the internet, television and mobile communications. Binay Bohora, managing director of Vianet Communications said that most of the inte...