Nepal - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Penetration Increased from 0.8 in 2012 to 0.9% in 2014 and 1.2% in 2016

Nepal’s telcos providing more fibre broadband competition

Nepal’s fixed broadband penetration rate remains very low, though there has been much progress made in recent years by telcos and the government to broaden the reach of services.

In the fibre market in particular, telcos have extended the reach of their networks to many more areas, and have been able to offer relatively cheap services. This has resulted in a flurry of activity in the sector, with operators providing cheaper packages and with more generous data allowances in a bid to secure new subscribers or at least to retain existing ones.

Key statisticsRegional Asian market comparisonCountry 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
Fixed-line developments
Mobile market developments

Mobile market

Mobile statistics
Mobile infrastructure
Nepal Satellite Telecom (NSPTL)
Major mobile operators
Mobile content and applications

Fixed-line broadband market

ISP market
Broadband statistics
Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks

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
Data centres

Glossary of abbreviationsRelated 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