The head of Nepalese mobile network operator Ncell says the firm will be prioritising its mobile data services in the current fiscal year, which began in mid-July. According to a report from Republica, Ncell Managing Director Simon Perkins is also confident that the operator can launch 4G LTE services within two months of receiving the official go-ahead from the government. Ncell has applied to use its existing 1800MHz spectrum for 4G technology and the government is currently pushing through legislation to enable licensees to refarm frequencies for LTE.
Ncell shares Nepal’s wireless market roughly 50:50 with state-backed rival Nepal Telecom (NT), with both firms claiming over 13 million subscribers at the end of March 2016. Ncell is now 80%-owned by Axiata Group of Malaysia after its buyout of the stake previously held by Telia Company which completed in April this year.
