Nepal’s second largest operator Ncell has extended its 4G network to 21 cities in the country, meaning that it covers over 15% of the country’s population.
The operator’s director of corporate services Pranay Acharya said “we have been able to swiftly deliver on what we have committed, contributing towards the goals of National Broadband Policy and Digital Nepal”.
Ncell received its 4G licence in May 2017 and first launched 4G services the following month in the Kathmandu Valley. It is currently trialling 4G services in other cities.
After some uncertainty relating to a dispute over tax payments, the operator was cleared to offer 4G services after it was backed by a December 2017 Supreme Court ruling. Malaysian firm Axiata acquired an 80% stake in Ncell in April 2016, but had faced hurdles repatriating dividends earned from the Nepali operator.
At the end of 2017, Ncell has 16.3 million mobile connections for a 44% market share. Of these, around 300,000 were 4G connections.
