Nepal Telecom (NT) has announced its decision to shut down its 2G service by the end of this year. The announcement was made during the company’s 21st anniversary celebration on Tuesday by Managing Director Sangita Aryal Pahadi. The state-owned telecom company revealed that it will discontinue its 1800 MHz 2G network, marking a shift towards more advanced technologies.
Additionally, NT will introduce eSIM services through its app and website, eliminating the need for customers to visit service counters for activation. This change is part of the company’s ongoing efforts to enhance customer convenience.
As of mid-December, Nepal Telecom has reported 21.24 million voice service subscribers, with 20.77 million of them using GSM mobile services. The company also serves 87,000 subscribers for PSTN services and 380,000 for FTTH voice services.
In financial news, Nepal Telecom reported a net profit of Rs 6.23 billion for the fiscal year 2023/24. While this is a slight decrease compared to the previous fiscal year, the company managed to achieve profitability despite challenging economic conditions. For the current fiscal year, NT has already generated about Rs 20.12 billion in revenue as of mid-January.
During the anniversary event, Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, urged Nepal Telecom to expedite the launch of 5G services in major cities. Emphasizing the importance of staying ahead in global technological advancements, the minister highlighted that while the world is preparing for 6G, Nepal should not fall behind and must start deploying 5G services immediately. He also stressed the importance of the telecom sector focusing more on data services rather than traditional voice services, as telecom companies globally rely more on data for revenue generation.
Furthermore, the minister directed NT to expand 4G coverage across the country and enhance broadband connections to local levels. He also encouraged the company to offer round-the-clock maintenance services to ensure continuous customer support.
With the telecommunications landscape rapidly evolving, Nepal Telecom is committed to keeping pace with the digital age and addressing the growing demands of consumers across the nation.
