Nepal's Minister for Information and Communication Mohan Bahadur Basnet (2nd L) shakes hands with Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Yu Hong after the inauguration of Nepal-China cross-border optical fiber link at Kathmandu, Nepal, Jan. 12, 2018. The Nepal-China cross-border optical fiber link came into commercial operation on Friday. (Xinhua/Pratap Thapa)

KATHMANDU, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Nepal-China cross-border optical fiber link came into commercial operation on Friday.

Nepal's Minister for Information and Communications Mohan Bahadur Basnet inaugurated the commercial operation of the linkage established through Rauwagadhi-Kerung (Geelong Port) border point.

Two state-owned telecommunication companies from Nepal and China-Nepal Telecom (NT) and China Telecom established the linkage providing Nepal an alternative route to receive Internet services through China from major Internet hubs including Hong Kong.

The commercial operation Nepal-China network was planned last year after Nepal Telecom and China Telecom signed a commercial agreement on December 6, 2016.

Addressing the function to inaugurate the commercial operation, Basnet termed the operation of the fiber link as a milestone for the development of Internet infrastructure in Nepal.

"This link will further strengthen the long standing strong bilateral relations between the two countries," he said.

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Yu Hong said this linkage would bring the two countries even closer and create business potentials.

The NT believes that the linkage would help enhance the reliability of the Internet service in Nepal. The NT 's Managing Director Kamini Rajbhandari said the international connectivity through multiple channels is vital for ensuring reliable, cost effective and quality services in Nepal.

Chief Representative of China Telecom Wang Yonglin said the Nepal-China cross border optical fiber link would enable Nepal to deliver Internet traffic at just 73 milliseconds to Hong Kong compared to 120 milliseconds through the sub-marine routes that Nepal has been using.

"This is the shortest route for Nepal to get Internet service," he said, adding that the route could also act as a gateway for Nepal to reach to Central Asia, Northeast Asia and the United States.