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Communications in Nepal
Telephony
Total telephone subscribers139.32 (May 2019)[1]
Mobile subscribers39,988,752 (May 2019)[1]
Fixed line subscribers798,704 (May 2019)[1]
Monthly telephone additions (Net)(May 2019)[1]
Teledensity
(May 2019)[1]
Urban Teledensity
(May 2019)[1]
Rural Teledensity
(May 2019)[1]
Active wireless Subscribers
(July 2018)[1]
Internet access
Internet users18,685,873 (Mar 2019)
Mobile Broadband subscribers49.65 (May 2019)[1]
Internet penetration63.31
(Mar 2019)[2]
Share of World Internet Users(August 2019)
country code top-level domain.np
Broadcasting
Private television channels(Mar 2019)
Private FM radio stations(Mar 2019)

Nepal's telecommunication network has increased over the years significantly, with the number of telephone users (both fixed and mobile phone) reaching 40,789,198 subscribers as of 14 May 2019.[1]

Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) is the regulatory body of telecommunications in the country. According to the latest figures, eight companies have been licensed to operate voice-based telephony services, out of which five are heavily invested by foreign companies.[3] The investment market of telecom is a subject of interest for many foreign companies and NTA itself as it has to prepare the regulations on hand.[4]

According to the latest Management Information system (MIS) report of the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA), 97.65 percent of 26.49 million people in the country have access to telephone service. The report includes data of up to mid-December 2014. Telephone penetration increased by 12.88 percentage points in one year. It stood at 84.77 percent in mid-December 2013.

History

The beginning

Mahabir Pun hand-making a satellite dish in Nepal

In Nepal, operating any form of telecommunication service dates back to 1970. However, telecom service was formally provided mainly after the establishment of MOHAN AKASHWANI in B.S. 2005. Later as per the plan formulated in the First National Five-year plan (2012-2017 BS), Telecommunication Department was established in B.S. 2016. In order to modernize the telecommunications services and expand the services, during the third five-year plan (2023-2028), Telecommunication Department was converted into Telecommunications Development Board in B.S. 2026.

After enacting the Communications Corporation Act 2028, it was formally established as a fully owned Government Corporation called Nepal Telecommunications Corporation in B.S. 2032 to provide telecommunications services to Nepalese People. After serving the nation for 29 years with great pride and a sense of accomplishment, Nepal Telecommunication Corporation was transformed into Nepal Doorsanchar Company Limited (NDCL) from Baisakh 1, 2061. NDCL is a company registered under the Companies Act 2053 with an 85% government share. However, the company is known to the general public by Nepal Telecom (NT) as a registered trademark.

Further developments and milestones

Some milestones:

The first telephone exchange was established in Kathmandu in 1960. From 1960 to 2004, the state-owned Nepal Telecommunications Corporation (NTC), also known as Nepal Telecom, or Nepal Doorsanchar Company Limited (NDCL), had been the monopoly telecom carrier. Now, there are only two operators, so Nepal's telecom industry is a duopoly market. Other competing telecom service providers like United Telecom (UTL), Smart Telecom are no more in the picture in Nepal.

Telephony

The country code for Nepal is 00977. As of May 2013, there are 644,347 wirline customers.[5]

Telephone system:

Mobile telephony

a telecommunication tower in Pokhara

As of 2019, there are four operational three major telecom operators in Nepal:

CG Telecom was set to launch its services in 2019.[6]

Mobile Subscribers: 18,137,771 (May 2013)[7]

5G connectivity

In 2019, Nepal Telecom has announced its intention to launch 5G services in the next few years after the deployment of 4G nationwide.[8]


Internet

Main article: Internet in Nepal

As of May 2013, there are 127 ISPs and 6.7 million internet users in Nepal.[7]

Net neutrality

Main article: Net neutrality in Nepal

Television broadcasting

Television broadcast stations: 19 (37 registered) (2012)

Televisions: 130,000 (1997)

Radio

Radio broadcast stations:' AM 6, FM 20, shortwave 1 (January 2000) Radios: 20,00,000 (2006)


See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Nepal Telecommunication Authority - MIS Report" (PDF). Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  2. ^ "Nepal Telecommunication Authority - MIS Report" (PDF). Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  3. ^ All telecom companies in Nepal to be Public – NTA Cross Holding Study Reports, TechSansar.com, retrieved January 22, 2014.
  4. ^ NTA study report (pdf), January 19, 2014
  5. ^ "Nepal Telecommunications Authority, Management Information System". Nepal Telecommunications Authority. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  6. ^ "List of Telecom Operators in Nepal". Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Nepal Telecommunications Authority, Management Information System". Nepal Telecommunications Authority. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  8. ^ "Nepal Telecom starts the installation work of 4G LTE towers". Nepali Telecom. Retrieved 7 August 2019.

External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Telecommunications in Nepal.
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