MIT GSL students works on startup ideation and app development

Thirty-five students participating in MIT Global Startup Labs (GSL) are working on leading-edge startup ideas that address the way Nepalis are served in health, education, tourism, transportation management and utilities, among others.  

The program incorporates an innovation boot camp, in which the students are learning the steps of creating a tech startup and what it takes to actually be an entrepreneur - from ideation stage to execution of technology startups.  

MIT launches Global Startup Labs in Nepal

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA, on Friday launched the MIT Global Startup Labs (GSL) in Nepal this summer with Kathmandu University and Ncell.  MIT GSL empowers technology entrepreneurs and helps cultivate the startup ecosystem in emerging economies. 

The MIT has been conducting the program for the last 18 years in 25 countries promoting economic development by cultivating young technology entrepreneurs, including India and Sri Lanka in South Asia. This inaugural program has been made possible by Ncell that works towards the technological advancement of the country by nurturing young entrepreneurs.

9.2 million Ncell customers carry smartphones

First quarter report of Ncell released by its main investor Malaysian company Axiata shows that people carrying smartphone is increasing sharply in Nepal and the figure reached around 9.2 million. As per the report, 56% customers of Ncell are using smartphone. Ncell has 16.4 million customers. As per the recent Q1 report, compared to smartphone penetration of 44% in the Q1 last year, the penetration rate this year has increased by 12 percentage point. Smartphone penetration in Ncell was at 52% in Q4 2017. The number of data users is also increasing significantly.

Ncell’s ‘Pahilo SIM’ for SEE appeared students

Ncell has introduced a special offer ‘Pahilo SIM’ to this year’s SEE appeared students. Under this scheme, students can subscribe Ncell prepaid SIM card at just Re. 1 loaded with exciting offers of iflix video streaming and My5 service on the first recharge. That is not all; they can also enjoy exclusively designed more affordable data packs and bonuses on every top up. Subscribers are entitled to get daily 3 hours of free video streaming between 11:00 pm to 5:00 pm of next day on iflix.

Most of the projects funded by RTDF delayed

Majority of the projects funded by the Rural Telecommunication Development Fund (RTDF) are unlikely to meet the deadline. Even as separate agreements to carry out projects worth NPR 9 billion were reached with Nepal Telecom (NT), United Telecom Limited (UTL) and Smart Telecom, no project has made progress as per condition set in the agreement.

Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) on September 28, 2016, had signed an agreement with NT to expand optical fiber network in 32 districts along the Mid-Hill Highway with investment of around NPR 4.47 billion. More than half of the time allocated to complete the project has already passed, however; NT has failed to initiate any work to implement the project.

Billions of revenue loss in the lack of frequency distribution

The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) itself is found flouting frequency policy. Auctioning of frequency on 2100 MHz bandwidth should have been done by mid-March 2017, but NTA has not even initiated the process. No distribution of frequency has caused loss of more than NPR 1 billion revenue to the government in last one year.

Due to weakness of NTA, 80 MHz frequency in 2100 MHz has not been distributed. As per the frequency policy, the regulator was supposed to auction frequency in the 2100 MHz within three to six months after issuing two basic telephone service licenses.

Nepal added over 250 internet users per hour

More than 250 new users were connected to the internet every hour last year, the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) said. According to the NTA’s Management Information System (MIS), 2.25 million new users were connected to the internet last year.

That translates to more than 250 new users every hour. As of October 2017, 16.67 million Nepalis had been connected to the internet, up 15.60 percent year-on-year.

NTA to crack down on grey market mobile phones

SIM cards in smuggled handsets to be rendered inoperable
In a bid to crack down on sale of illegally procured mobile phones, the government will introduce a system under which the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards of telecom companies will not function in unregistered mobile devices.

Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) is preparing a guideline to enforce such a system to render useless handsets that arrive in the market via illegal channels. In a simpler sense, mobile phones whose International Mobile Equipment Identity number is not registered at NTA will not accept SIM cards of any telecom companies once the authority enforces the system.

NTA prepares to issue MVNO permit

The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) is preparing to issue a license of mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). The regulator has said that the permit was being open with a target to expand mobile service in areas where the service has not reached, diversify the telecommunications services being provided and provide enhanced quality of service to customers.

MVNO is a concept of a company that can diversify telecom services using the network and infrastructure of mobile operators. Digambar Jha, chairman of NTA said that the permit will be issued with a focus to virtual marketing. “We are issuing MVNO license based on which a licensee will take business from service providers,” he said. “There will be no role of NTA in between if a telecom company refuse to provide business to MVNO. They will be working together only based on policy and instruction.”

NTA to hire consultant to monitor broadband projects

Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) is set to hire a consulting firm to monitor the projects under NTA’s Rural Telecommunications Development Fund (RTDF). The telecommunication sector regulator recently invited expression of interest (EoI) from interested firms to monitor, evaluate and certify the progress of RTDF-funded projects.

“As NTA lacks enough manpower and expertise to monitor and evaluate project progress, we decided to hire a consulting company for this purpose. The hired consultant will basically render professional services for evaluation, monitoring and certification of RTDF-funded broadband projects initiated by NTA,” said Min Prasad Aryal, spokesperson for NTA.

Ncell 4G/LTE now in Lahan and Dhangadhi

• Ncell 4G service reaches 21 cities
• Nepal’s widest 4G coverage crosses 15% of population
• Customers can upgrade their SIM to 4G at Re 1 and get 1 GB data

Ncell Private Ltd. has expanded its fourth generation (4G)/long term evolution (LTE) service in two more cities - Lahan of Siraha and Dhangadhi of Kailali district, further expanding coverage of the country’s widest 4G network. The company is launching the high-speed mobile broadband in these cities on January 7, 2018.

All Ncell customers possessing 4G SIM (U-SIM) with the 4G compatible handset in Lahan and Dhangadhi will be able to enjoy the 4G service and reap benefits of opportunities it brings from Sunday. With this expansion, Ncell’s 4G coverage has now reached 21 cities and made the service accessible to over 15% population.

Ncell starts online recharge service

Private sector mobile service provider Ncell has started online recharge service for the first time in the country, enabling its customers to top-up their balance and pay postpaid mobile bills using Debit and Credit cards from VISA, MasterCard and UnionPay.

The service, which came into operation from Tuesday, is aimed at enhancing the customer experience by implementing digital solutions, according to Ncell.

Ncell Mela in 4 cities

The fun-filled 4G focused carnival begins on Dec 23

Ncell Private Limited is organizing its annual Ncell Mela in 4 major cities of the country, which is scheduled to start on December 23. The fair will be organized in Pokhara, Biratnagar, Butwal and Lalitpur to get closer with customers and provide experience of faster mobile broadband--long-term evolution (LTE)/fourth generation (4G) service--at local level.

The mela is being held in the 4 cities where Ncell has swiftly expanded 4G service, offering opportunities that high-speed connectivity brings. All the entertainment activities and games will have 4G theme in the fair and visitors will be able to enjoy the performance by famous celebrity artists and bands.

Ncell brings new voice packs at more affordable tariffs

Ncell Private Ltd. committed at providing quality services at affordable rates has introduced four new voice packs, which enable prepaid customers to enjoy more talk times at more affordable rates. Customers can now enjoy up to 700 minutes in a month with new voice pack.

New voice packs have come into effect from Thursday (November 23) for a period of 90 days. Under these packs, customers depending upon their talk time requirement, can subscribe to daily, weekly and monthly voice packs. That if not all; customers can now also subscribe 3-day voice pack.

Ncell and iflix partner to give subscribers unlimited data and access to iflix

Ncell Pvt Ltd. on Wednesday announced the launch of its exclusive partnership with iflix, the world’s leading entertainment service for emerging markets. Under this collaboration, all Ncell customers can enjoy up to three months unlimited access (worth Rs 900) to iflix’s world-class service starting from Thursday (October 12).

• Unlimited access to iflix's vast library for 3 months, exclusive for Ncell customers
• Video streaming for free during mid-night to 5 AM
• 2 hours of daily free streaming service to 4G users
• 1 hour iflix data pack at NPR 50
• Access to iflix on up to 5 devices

Over 6500 new customers getting connected to internet every day in Nepal

Nepali internet service providers (ISPs) are adding more than 6500 data customers each day. This is what the most recent management information system (MIS) report released by telecommunications regulator—Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA)—shows.

As per the report, ISPs have added a total of 2.4 million new internet users during last fiscal year 2016/17. This means in an average 6500 plus Nepali people are being connected to the internet on daily basis.

Internet at as low as 2 Paisa/MB

Private sector telecom company Ncell has come up with an attractive new data pack offer that allows customers use internet service at as low as 2 paisa per MB. This is the first time that the data of the wireless mobile data dropped down to such a low tariff.

The offer launched last week, bundled 4G data enabling customers to enjoy internet at more affordable rates. Customers subscribing to any data pack under this offer get extra same volume of 4G data as a bonus, and can enjoy internet service at as low as 2 paisa per MB including taxes. If a customer subscribe 500 MB all time pack, s/he will also get additional 500 MB 4G data as bonus.

Ncell 4G/LTE connects Kohalpur and Birendranagar

Ncell has expanded its fourth generation (4G)/long term evolution (LTE) service in two more cities - Kohalpur of Banke and Birendranagar of Surkhet district of mid-western region of the country. The company brought the service into operation from today (September 1, Friday).

All Ncell customers possessing 4G SIM (U-SIM) with 4G compatible handset in Kohalpur and Birendranagar will be able to experience high speed mobile broadband from Friday. Customers who are still to change their SIM to 4G SIM can easily acquire 4G SIM with same mobile number at just Rs 1 by visiting nearby Ncell Center. With the SIM upgrade, which can be done by furnishing original document (citizenship certificate or driving license), the customers will also receive 1GB 4G data with validity of 3 days.

Text message alerts prove life saver in flood-hit Nepal

By Arun Karki

TADUWA, Nepal (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - It was a simple text message that saved Shreejana Pariyar from being washed to oblivion along with all her worldly goods when flash floods devastated western Nepal last week.

A day after the Babai river flooded her home in Taduwa village - carrying off everything but the beds and leaving a muddy mess in its wake - Pariyar delivered a baby son.

“I feel luck to be alive,” she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation, cradling her newborn on the porch of her home.

“The water swept away food, clothes, kitchen utensils and everything I kept inside, apart from the beds,” she added.

Ncell customers in flood and landslides affected districts send over 16.6m free SMS

Ncell customers in flood and landslides affected districts have sent over 16.6 million text messages, utilizing free SMS service provided by the company to ensure communications of customers.

The company, in a bid to support customers stay in touch during the time of natural disaster and contribute to rescue and relief operations, had provided 50 free SMS per day per customer. Free SMS service was made available to the customers residing in government defined 23 affected districts until Tuesday (August 15) as per directives of the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA).