KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress lawmaker and former Minister Mohan Bahadur Basnet raised serious concerns during a special session of the House of Representatives, highlighting the absence of Telecommunications Traffic Monitoring and Fraud Control System (TERAMOX) technology in Nepal. Basnet pointed out that this technology, designed to curb call bypass activities (VoIP), is globally recognized for its effectiveness in preventing revenue losses from such fraud.

According to Basnet, the lack of TERAMOX in Nepal has led to an annual revenue loss of Rs 25 billion due to call bypass activities. He emphasized that while this technology has successfully countered such fraud globally, its absence in Nepal has allowed significant financial losses to persist unchecked.

Basnet further alleged that those involved in call bypass schemes have exerted influence over relevant authorities to hinder the implementation of TERAMOX technology. He expressed concern that the perpetrators of the Rs 25 billion annual fraud are actively lobbying to prevent the adoption of measures that could curb their illicit activities.

The lawmaker underscored the urgency of adopting TERAMOX technology, questioning what alternative measures could effectively combat call bypass if not TERAMOX. He revealed his personal initiative to advocate for the introduction of this technology, highlighting the magnitude of influence and resources wielded by those perpetrating significant revenue fraud annually.

Basnet's comments throughout the discussion emphasized the vital necessity for Nepal to use advanced telecommunications monitoring technology such as TERAMOX to protect against significant revenue losses and assure regulatory compliance in the telecom industry.