Nepal’s 4G user base has surpassed 25.79 million, with mobile broadband penetration reaching 89.08% of the population, according to the latest MIS report for Shrawan 2082 by the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA). This marks a monthly growth of nearly 156,000 new 4G users compared to Ashar 2082.
The growth underscores the dominance of Nepal Telecom (Ntc) and Ncell, the two leading GSM operators. Ntc’s 4G subscribers rose to 14.13 million, an increase of over 128,000 in one month, while Ncell added more than 27,000 new users, reaching 11.66 million. Both operators are leveraging carrier aggregation (CA) technology to boost speeds and improve reliability, alongside offering VoLTE-enabled SIMs by default.
Despite steady growth, the quality of 4G services remains an area of focus. NTA’s drive test reports indicate that both telcos need to enhance voice and data experiences further. Meanwhile, Nepal is preparing for the next leap to 5G, though no timeline has yet been confirmed for its commercial launch.
As the transition accelerates, legacy networks are being phased out: Ntc has announced plans to shut down 2G services on 1800 MHz, while Ncell aims to discontinue its 3G network by 2025, paving the way for an all-4G-and-above mobile ecosystem.
