CAN Federation runs hackathon to promote Nepali-script domains, email addresses

KATHMANDU: A national hackathon and adaptation programme aimed at making the internet more inclusive for Nepali-language users concluded in Kathmandu on Saturday.

Federation of Computer Association Nepal (CAN Federation) in collaboration with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and UNESCO, organised the event titled, 'UA Adaptation and Hackathon Nepal 2026: Pioneering UA Ready Platforms.' Held to mark National Information and Communication Technology Day 2083 and Universal Acceptance (US) Day, the programme promoted domain names and email addresses based on the Nepali script.

CAN Federation President Sunaina Ghimire Pandey said the hackathon was more than a contest. "This hackathon is not just a competition but a historic step toward making Nepal's digital infrastructure multilingual and inclusive," she said at the opening ceremony. CAN Federation Founder President Dr Bimal Kumar Sharma said Universal Acceptance (UA) plays a crucial role in bringing technology to citizens at the grassroots level.

Speakers from government and international organisations urged technical change to widen access. Nepal Telecommunications Authority Deputy Director Er Roja Kiran Basukala said such changes are necessary to realise the Digital Nepal Framework. UNESCO Representative to Nepal, Jaco Du Toit, said using one's mother tongue in technology empowers people and preserves identity. ICANN Vice President Samiran Gupta said access to the internet in a native script or language is a citizen's right and a key step toward closing the digital divide.

In the Technical Track, Team Everest won first place with a system that enables the creation and use of Devanagari script-based email addresses. The team — Nirajan Parajuli, Angela Neupane, Raunak Regmi, Bhuwan Joshi, Abaran Dhungana and Bini Chand — developed a platform to expand email address internationalisation and support internationalised domain names. The platform allows digital services to accept Nepali and Devanagari scripts rather than only Latin characters.

Meanwhile, the Non-Technical Track was won by Amaresh Shah, Vijay Regmi, Dakshina Pandey and Kumkum Sarraf. Their entry provided a policy and awareness blueprint for implementing Universal Acceptance across sectors and stakeholders in Nepal.

Experts presented working papers and held brainstorming sessions on challenges and opportunities for Nepali (Devanagari)-based internet systems. Organisers urged rapid development of UA-ready platforms while English continues to dominate the web.

CAN Federation has launched an official portal using a Nepali-script domain, https://क्यान.संगठन, which the organisation says is Nepal's first Internationalised Domain Name (IDN). The hackathon showcased solutions from developers and students for government agencies, the private sector, academia and community groups.

The programme drew support from APNIC, WorldLink Communications, ISPAN, Horion, Sunway College Kathmandu and Softwarica College of IT & eCommerce. It ran both in person and online and attracted software developers, students, researchers and technology enthusiasts nationwide.

Programme coordinator Udip Baral said the campaign will mark a milestone for digital inclusion in Nepal. Team lead Vivek Silwal oversaw technical sessions and mentorship, while technical trainer Rahul Shakya provided guidance and training to participants.