Nepal Telecom, the state-owned telecommunications operator, is planning to deploy its 5G network in standalone mode, a move that could mark a significant shift away from its long-standing reliance on Chinese technology providers, including Huawei. While Huawei will continue supporting existing 2G, 3G, and 4G services, it may not be part of Nepal Telecom’s commercial 5G rollout.
Unlike non-standalone 5G, which relies on existing 4G infrastructure, a standalone 5G network operates on fully dedicated 5G radio and core systems. Nepal Telecom officials said the decision follows internal assessments and consensus, with the aim of unlocking the full capabilities of 5G through a cloud-native core architecture. The operator plans to procure the new 5G system through an open and competitive bidding process, although no timeline has been announced.
The move comes amid broader debate over national security and geopolitical considerations in telecom infrastructure. Nepal has historically used Chinese technology across its mobile networks, largely due to lower costs. However, experts and former diplomats have cautioned that vendor selection should prioritise security and resilience over price alone, given the strategic importance of communications infrastructure.
As part of its 5G preparations, Nepal Telecom has requested 80 MHz of spectrum from the Nepal Telecommunications Authority without charge, a proposal regulators say is unlikely outside of trial scenarios. Regulatory authorities continue to assess spectrum pricing, licensing requirements, and policy frameworks as Nepal advances its Digital Nepal Framework objectives, which include nationwide 5G deployment to support economic and digital development.
