Nepal - Media

Postal, telephone, and telegraph services are operated by the government. Telephone service connects Ka¯thmāndu with Birganj on the Indian frontier, and another line links the capital with foothill towns in the eastern Terai. The telecommunications network includes a 5,000-telephone automatic exchange of over 90 radio relay stations, and an earth satellite station established with help from the UK in 1982. In 2000 there were 236,816 telephones in use.

Radio Nepal, a commercial, semi-governmental network, broadcasts in Nepali and English on both short and medium wavelengths. Television was introduced into the Ka¯thmāndu Valley in 1986 and the Nepalese Television Corporation broadcasts about 23 hours a week. As of 2000 there were 6 AM radio stations. In 2001 there were 16 FM stations in operation and 3 television stations. In 2000, there were 39 radios and 7 television sets per 1,000 population. In 2001, there were 15 Internet service providers serving about 50,000 subscribers.

Dailies, weeklies, and monthlies in Nepali, Newari, Hindi, and English are published mainly in Ka¯thmāndu. The largest daily newspapers (with 2002 circulation) are the Gorkhapatra (75,000), the Nepali Hindi Daily (62,000), Samaya (18,000), and the English-language Rising Nepal (20,000).

Though the constitution specifies that the government may not censor expression, including that of the press, the press is licensed by the government, and licenses have been suspended and individuals arrested for criticism of the monarchy or support of a political party.