Ncell 3G to reach 60pc population by the end of 2018

Private sector GSM mobile operator—Ncell has said that the company will expand its 3G network focusing remote and rural parts of the country, contributing in making high speed mobile connectivity available for people living in such areas to reap benefit of mobile broadband.

Ncell which had launched its 3G service in 2010, has stated that by expanding the 3G network in line with the permission granted by the government for technology neutrality, the service will be made accessible for 60 percent population of the country by the end of 2018.
It has already taken the service to more than 65 districts of the Nepal, covering more 30 percent population.

Access to fast wireless internet connection was just a dream till the private sector company launched its fast 3G ensuring speed of up to 3.6Mbps speed back in 2010. This was also the milestone as it enabled Nepali customers to enjoy online videos without buffering. Now the company in its 3G service segment has been providing speed of up to 21 Mbps in Kathmandu Valley after network modernization in 2015 and the same speed of 3G connection is also available in the Everest region.

With technology neutrality, the company can enable more than 17 million Nepali to enjoy fast mobile internet service, as per news reports. Planned 3G expansion of Ncell will cover areas that include more than 1,000 rural and remote villages like Deuralikot of Bajhang, Shreenagar of Mugu, Jhong in Mustang, Malta of Lalitpur and Tingla of Solukhumbu. “These villages will have access to the fast mobile internet for the first time in their life, which will contribute to bridging the prevailing digital divide, bringing immense positive changes in the lives of people, the economy of those communities and social arena,” the company release states.

Ncell has said that the expansion of high-speed mobile broadband will contribute to the country’s vision of ‘Digital Nepal’.  In a press statement issued last month, it has said that the company has committed to resources, knowledge transfer and investment with up to Rs 30 billion in infrastructure and services accordingly which will contribute to achieving the goal of digital Nepal.

As a part of the commitment to nation building, the company has already made its 4G service available in Kathmandu Valley, Banepa, Nagarkot, Dhulikhel, Pokhara and Damauli. With this, its 4G service has been made available to 10.3 percent population of the country and it has also targeted to make the service accessible to 15 percent population by expanding it to at least 15 major cities of the country by the end of this year.