PUBLISHER: BuddeComm | PRODUCT CODE: 1035091
PUBLISHER: BuddeComm | PRODUCT CODE: 1035091
Nepal - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses
Nepal's broadband traffic grows but data rates remain low
In relation to its telecom sector, Nepal has several topographical and economic constraints which have impeded efforts to expand network infrastructure and improve the quality of service for end-users.
The fixed line market remains underdeveloped, and as a result most traffic is channeled via mobile networks. Fixed broadband penetration remains very low, though to address this the government has initiated several programs as part of the Digital Nepal Framework and the wider Optical Fibre Backbone Network Expansion Project, started in 2012. Supported by the Rural Telecommunications Development Fund, the programs include building out fibre backbone infrastructure and using this to provide broadband to schools and community centres nationally.
Telcos have also invested in fibre networks, and competition in the market is intensifying. Cheap fibre-based services launched by CG Net in mid-2021 prompted responses from other ISPs to provide faster and more competitively priced offers.
Nepal's mobile market is relatively developed, with a focus on LTE. In 2021, the regulator considered a range of spectrum bands which could be used for 5G, while Nepal Telecom was charged with trialing services in five cities.
BuddeComm notes that the pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally. During the coming year the telecoms sector to various degrees is likely to experience a downturn in mobile device production, while it may also be difficult for network operators to manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure. Overall progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries.
On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth.
Although it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the industry forecasts contained in this report.
The report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions.
Key developments:
- Government facilitates e-learning with free internet access and data packages for students, provides funds to connect schools in all 66 districts to the internet;
- Nepal Telecom asks for free spectrum to trial 5G services, plans to close down WiMAX service;
- Nepali Digital Payment Company launches an m-money service;
- Regulator allows telcos to refarm 900MHz spectrum for LTE use, updates infrastructure sharing rules;
- Nepal Telecom secures additional 1800MHz spectrum, closes CDMA network;
- Nepal's first national satellite to be launched in 2022;
- Report update includes an assessment of the global impact of Covid-19 on the telecoms sector, the regulator's market reports to May 2021, telcos' operating and financial data to July 2021, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, recent market developments.
Companies mentioned in this report
Nepal Telecom (NDCL), United Telecom (UTL), Ncell, Telia Company, STM Telecom, Nepal Satellite Telecom (NSTPL), Smart Telecom (STPL).
Table of Contents
Key statistics
Regional Asian market comparison
Country overview
Covid-19 and its impact on the telecom sector
- Economic considerations and responses
- Subscribers
- Infrastructure
Telecommunications market
- Market overview and analysis
Regulatory environment
- Regulatory authority
- Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA)
- Fixed-line developments
- Telecommunications Policy 1999
- Universal service
- Rural Telecommunications Development Fund (RTDF)
- Telecommunications Policy 2004
- Telecom sector liberalisation and licensing
- Foreign assistance
- Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA)
- Privatisation of Nepal Telecom
- Broadband policy
- Mobile market developments
- Spectrum
- Pricing
- Network sharing
Mobile market
- Mobile statistics
- Mobile infrastructure
- 5G
- 4G (LTE)
- Mobile broadband
- Nepal Satellite Telecom (NSPTL)
- Major mobile operators
- Nepal Telecom
- Ncell
- Smart Telecom (SPTL)
- Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs)
- Mobile content and applications
- M-banking
Fixed-line broadband market
- ISP market
- Broadband statistics
- Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks
- Other fixed broadband services
Digital economy
- e-Government
- e-ID cards
- e-Commerce
Fixed network operators
- Major operators
- Nepal Telecom
- United Telecom (UTL)
- Nepal Satellite Telecom (NSPTL)
- Smart Telecom (STPL)
- STM Telecom
Telecommunications infrastructure
- Overview of the national telecom network
- Fibre networks
- International infrastructure
- Kacific-1 satellite
- Nepal's first satellite
- Data centres
Glossary of abbreviations
Related reports
List of Tables
- Table 1 - Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities - Nepal - 2021 (e)
- Table 2 - Licences issued for telecom services - 2021 May
- Table 3 - Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration - 2011 - 2026
- Table 4 - Change in the number of 3G/LTE subscribers (million) - 2017 - 2021
- Table 5 - Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers and penetration - 2012 - 2026
- Table 6 - Mobile broadband subscribers by type - 2017 - 2021
- Table 7 - Change in the number of Nepal Telecom's mobile broadband subscribers - 2017 - 2021
- Table 8 - Change in the number of Ncell's mobile broadband subscribers - 2017 - 2021
- Table 9 - Change in the number of Smart Telecom's mobile broadband subscribers - 2017 - 2021
- Table 10 - Change in the number of mobile subscribers by operators (million) - 2011 - 2021
- Table 11 - Change in the market share of mobile subscribers by operator - 2011 - 2021
- Table 12 - Change in the number of Nepal Telecom's mobile subscribers - 2011 - 2021
- Table 13 - Change in the number of Nepal Telecom's mobile subscribers by technology (million) - 2009 - 2021
- Table 14 - Development of Ncell's financial data (NPR million) - 2015 - 2021
- Table 15 - Development of Ncell's financial data (RM million) - 2016 - 2021
- Table 16 - Change in the number of Ncell's mobile subscribers - 2011 - 2021
- Table 17 - Change in the number of Ncell's mobile subscribers by type (million) - 2015 - 2021
- Table 18 - Development of Ncell's mobile ARPU (NPR/month) - 2015 - 2021
- Table 19 - Growth in the number of Smart Telecom's mobile subscribers - 2015 - 2021
- Table 20 - Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration - 2011 - 2026
- Table 21 - Data and internet subscribers by technology (New format) - 2017 - 2021
- Table 22 - Change in the number of Nepal Telecom's WiMAX subscribers - 2012 - 2021
- Table 23 - Change in the number of Wi-Fi subscribers - 2017 - 2021
- Table 24 - Change in the number of PSTN fixed-line subscribers by operator - 2009 - 2021
- Table 25 - Change in the number of WLL fixed subscribers by operator - 2009 - 2021
- Table 26 - Change in the number of Nepal Telecom's fixed subscribers by type- 2011 - 2021
- Table 27 - Development of Nepal Telecom's financial data (NPR billion) - 2016 - 2021
- Table 28 - Decline in the number of fixed lines and teledensity - 2009 - 2021
- Table 29 - Fixed-line subscribers - wireline and WLL - 2010 - 2021
- Table 30 - Increase in international internet capacity - 2011 - 2018
- Table 31 - Historic - Mobile subscribers, annual change, and penetration rate - 1999 - 2010
- Table 32 - Historic - Internet bandwidth capacity - 2001 - 2010
- Table 33 - Historic - STM's subscribers - limited mobility and fixed-line - 2010 - 2017
- Table 34 - Historic - fixed-lines in service and teledensity - 1995 - 2010
- Table 35 - Historic - Nepal Satellite Telecom (NSPTL) - mobile subscribers - 2017 - 2018
- Table 36 - Historic - UTL's subscribers - limited mobility and WLL - 2011 - 2017
- Table 37 - Historic - Nepal Telecom (NDCL) - mobile subscribers - 2006 - 2010
- Table 38 - Historic - Ncell - mobile subscribers - 2006 - 2010
- Table 39 - Historic - Data and Internet subscribers by technology (old format) - 2013 - 2016
List of Charts
- Chart 1 - Asian Telecoms Maturity Index by Market Category
- Chart 2 - Asian Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per Capita
- Chart 3 -Telecoms Maturity Index - Central Asia
- Chart 4 - Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration - 2011 - 2026
- Chart 5 - Change in the number of 3G/LTE subscribers - 2017 - 2021
- Chart 6 - Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers and penetration - 2012 - 2026
- Chart 7 - Mobile broadband subscribers by type - 2017 - 2021
- Chart 8 - Change in the number of mobile subscribers by operators (million) - 2011 - 2021
- Chart 9 - Change in the market share of mobile subscribers by operator - 2011 - 2021
- Chart 10 - Change in the number of Nepal Telecom's mobile subscribers - 2011 - 2021
- Chart 11 - Change in the number of Nepal Telecom's mobile subscribers by technology - 2009 - 2021
- Chart 12 - Development of Ncell's financial data (NPR million) - 2015 - 2021
- Chart 13 - Development of Ncell's financial data (RM million) - 2016 - 2021
- Chart 14 - Change in the number of Ncell's mobile subscribers - 2011 - 2021
- Chart 15 - Change in the number of Ncell's mobile subscribers by type - 2015 - 2021
- Chart 16 - Development of Ncell's mobile ARPU - 2015 - 2021
- Chart 17 - Growth in the number of Smart Telecom's mobile subscribers - 2015 - 2021
- Chart 18 - Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration - 2011 - 2026
- Chart 19 - Change in the number of Nepal Telecom's fixed subscribers by type- 2011 - 2021
- Chart 20 - Development of Nepal Telecom's financial data - 2009 - 2021
- Chart 21 - Decline in the number of fixed lines and teledensity - 2009 - 2021
List of Exhibits
- Exhibit 1 - Key Market Characteristics by Market Segment
- Exhibit 2 - Central Asia - Key Characteristics of Telecoms Markets by Country
- Exhibit 3 - Level of competition by market segment
- Exhibit 4 - Mobile operators and systems
