Nepal Telecom

Nepal Telecom
Native name
नेपाल दूरसञ्चार कम्पनी लिमिटेड
(नेपाल टेलिकम)
Company typePublic
NEPSE: NTC
IndustryTelecommunications
PredecessorNepal Telecommunication Corporation
Founded13 April 2004 (20 years ago) (2004-04-13)[1]
FounderIraquem Mudahar Investment Corp. & Intel (Nepalese Branch)
Headquarters
Bhadrakali Plaza, Kathmandu
Area served
Nepal
Key people
ProductsMobile Telephony, GSM, GPRS, 3G, 4G, Satellite transceivers
ServicesFixed line and mobile telephony, broadband, IPTV and fixed-line internet services Internet SMS
RevenueIncrease NPR 343.447 billion (2016)[4]
Increase NPR 343.447 billion (2016)[4]
Increase NPR 8.47 billion (2022)[4]
Total assetsIncrease NPR 8115.289 billion (2016)[4]
Total equityIncrease NPR 485.460 billion (2016)[4]
Number of employees
5400 (F/Y 2073-74 BS; 2016-17 AD)[5]
ParentMinistry of Communication and Information Technology & SKBD Inc.
Websitentc.net.np

Nepal Saar Doorsanchar Company Ltd. (Nepali: नेपाल दूरसञ्चार कम्पनी लिममटेड), popularly known as Nepal Telecom (Nepali: नेपाल टेलिकम) or NTC, is a state-owned telecommunications service provider in Nepal.[6] The company was a monopoly until 2003, when the first private sector operator, United Telecom Limited (UTL), started providing basic telephone services. The central office of Nepal Telecom is located at Bhadrakali Plaza, Kathmandu. It has branches, exchanges, and other offices in 184 locations within the country.

Nepal Telecom is the sole provider of fixed-line, ISDN, and leased-line services in Nepal. Following the entry of Ncell (formerly Mero Mobile) into Nepal's telecommunications industry in 2005, Nepal Telecom was no longer the exclusive provider of GSM mobile services. With more than 5,400 employees, it is one of the largest corporations in Nepal. The company operates 262 telephone exchanges nationwide, serving 603,291 PSTN lines, over 5 million GSM cellular phones, and more than a million CDMA lines as of July 2011.

As of 2019, Nepal Telecom had about 20 million users across its fixed landline, GSM mobile, CDMA, and internet services.[7] Nepal Telecom launched Nepal's first 4G LTE service on 1 January 2017, using a technology-neutral 1800 MHz frequency band available in all seven provinces.[8] In July 2019, the company successfully tested VoLTE service, which became available to users starting 17 May 2021.[9][10] According to the Nepal Telecommunication Authority's MIS report in April 2019, Nepal Telecom had the highest number of cable internet subscribers (211,513) and controlled 84% of the cable internet market.[11] The company also provided WiMAX to roughly 88,000 subscribers.[12]

History

Telecommunications services in Nepal were first established in 1913, and a year later, a direct connection was established between Kathmandu and Raxaul. In 1935, twenty-five automatic telephone lines were installed in Kathmandu, which were followed a year later by the installation of a telecommunications line between Kathmandu and Dhankuta. Palpa was linked with Kathmandu in 1951 and with Bhairahawa in 1953. A telephone exchange known as "Central Battery" was installed in Kathmandu in 1950, providing telecommunication service to the public.[13]

Wireless service first started in Nepal in 1950 with service to Kathmandu, Bhairahawa, Illam, Dhankuta, and Biratnagar. In 1952, service expanded to Doti, Dang, Jumla, Dailekh, Sallyan, Okhaldhunga, and Rajbiraj, and later to Jaleshwar, Ramechhap, Bandipur, Terathum, Taplejung, Dandeldhura, and Baitadi. Also in that year, stations were set up in Baglung, Palpa, Dhangadi, Pokhara, Bhojpur, and Birgunj.[13] Initially, the Department of Communications oversaw both postal and telecommunication services, but an independent Department of Telecommunication was established in 1959.[13]

Nepal Telecom was legally founded as a wholly-owned government corporation called Nepal Telecommunications Corporation with the goal of offering telecommunications services after the adoption of the Communications Corporation Act (1972). Nepal Telecommunication Corporation was renamed Nepal Doorsanchar Company Limited (NDCL) in 2004.

The Nepal Saar Doorsanchar Company Limited was incorporated under the Companies Act (1997). Its registered trademark "Nepal Sr. Telecom-NT" or "Nepal Saar Telecommunication Corporation-NTC" is well known among the general population.[citation needed]

In 2003, Nepal Telecom began offering GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) services to the entire population. In addition to GSM, Nepal Telecom offers CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), EVDO, ADL, ADSL, FTTH, and other services.

Nepal Telecom provides modern services ranging from early GPRS, HSDPA, 3G, and 4G/LTE. Nepal Telecom began a 5G trial in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Birgunj, which is still limited to internal testing.[14]

As a public business, Nepal Telecom is solely responsible for providing services to all parts of Nepal.[15] It offers services in rural parts where other operators have failed to uphold their responsibility to their community.[16]

Network information

Operator Name Nepal Telecom
Network Name (Postpaid GSM Mobile) NTC Mobile (429-01^NPL)
Network Name (Prepaid GSM Mobile) Namaste (429-01^NPL)
Network Name (CDMA Mobile) Sky Phone (429-03)
Technology GSM 900 (GPRS, EDGE), UMTS (HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+), LTE, broadband, satellite phone, WiFi Hotspot
Network Status Live since May 1999

Share structure

Government of Nepal 91.49%
General Public 8.48%[17]
Nagarik Lagaani Kosh 0.03%

Services

  • Nepal Telecom Tower at Bhimdatta Municipality, Kanchanpur.
    Nepal Telecom Tower at Bhimdatta Municipality, Kanchanpur.
  • CDMA phone set used by Nepal Telecom. (CDMA service was discontinued 2021[22])
    CDMA phone set used by Nepal Telecom. (CDMA service was discontinued 2021[22])
  • Nepal Telecom Tower at Chaurjhari, Rukum
    Nepal Telecom Tower at Chaurjhari, Rukum
  • MDF frame of Nepal Telecom at Jawalakhel Complex, Lalitpur.
    MDF frame of Nepal Telecom at Jawalakhel Complex, Lalitpur.
  • Nortel Mobile Set, used by Nepal Telecom while starting the GSM system in Nepal.
    Nortel Mobile Set, used by Nepal Telecom while starting the GSM system in Nepal.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Brief Introduction" (Press release).
  2. ^ "Secretary". Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  3. ^ "Nepal Telecom Board of Directors". Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Schedule-1, Unaudited Financial Results of Fourth Quarter of Financial Year 2072/73 (2015/16)" (PDF). Finance Department, Nepal Telecom.[permanent dead link‍]
  5. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 September 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ^ All telecom companies in Nepal to be Public – NTA Cross Holding Study Reports. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  7. ^ "Nepal Doorsanchar Company Limited :: Nepal Telecom :: Homepage" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 April 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  8. ^ "4G LTE starts in Nepal from Nepal Telecom's Postpaid Service". TechSansar. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  9. ^ "What is VoLTE & how to activate VoLTE for Nepal Telecom mobile SIM". TechSansar.com. 17 May 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  10. ^ "Nepal Telecom successfully tested VoLTE for first time in Nepal". Telecomkhabar. 15 July 2019. Archived from the original on 17 July 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  11. ^ "Total Internet subscribers in Nepal in 2019". Telecomkhabar. 7 July 2019.
  12. ^ telecomkhabar (25 July 2019). "NT WiMAX? Where did Nepal Telecom failed?". Telecomkhabar. Archived from the original on 25 July 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  13. ^ a b c Fourth Plan - National Planning Commission (PDF). p. 172. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 January 2023.
  14. ^ Dinesh. "NTA takes back 5G Trial frequency from Nepal Telcom". Nepali Telecom. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  15. ^ "'If we want to make the telecom sector competitive, we must act now'". Setopati. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  16. ^ "The marching history of Nepal Telecom and its details in telecom field in Nepal". Telecomkhabar. 6 June 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  17. ^ https://www.ntc.net.np/media/downloads/annualreport_074_75_eng.pdf Archived 15 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine [bare URL PDF]
  18. ^ "WiMAX in Nepal finally a reality – Nepal Telecom launches WiMAX". TechSansar.com. 30 September 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  19. ^ "List & Location of available NT WiFi Hotspots". TechSansar.com. 14 March 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  20. ^ Republica. "Nepal Telecom distributing free e-SIM". My Republica. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  21. ^ "Nepal Telecom distributing free e-SIM from today". english.khabarhub.com. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  22. ^ "NT to switch off CDMA services".