Ncell, one of Nepal’s leading telecom providers, is set to introduce new mobile numbers beginning with the 971 prefix, following approval granted by the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA). The company announced plans to distribute SIM cards with the new 971 range by July 31, 2025. This approval was granted on May 28, 2025, in response to existing number ranges—980, 981, 982, and 970—approaching full capacity.
The allocation of the 971 series falls under the NTA’s National Numbering Allocation Plan, which aims to optimize mobile number resources amid increasing demand. Mobile numbers have evolved beyond traditional telecommunications, becoming crucial for digital services such as receiving One-Time Passwords (OTPs), registering for mobile apps, accessing web services, and conducting digital financial transactions.
Ncell has called on all service providers, government agencies, private sector companies, banks, and financial institutions to update their systems promptly to accommodate the new 971 number range. This is to ensure uninterrupted service and compatibility across digital platforms for customers using the new series.
