Merger of Ncell and Nepal Satellite but only after policy change: Teliasonera

Tero Kivisaari is the president of Business Area Eurasia, TeliaSonera, the fifth largest telecom service provider in Europe. Kivisaari looks after 10 Eurasian countries where TeliaSonera is present. Kivisaari was recently in Nepal with top TeliaSonera officials.In an Interview with him posted in Kathmandu Post, Kivisaari talked about  Teliasonera’s future plans in Nepali Telecom Market. He expressed his satisfaction for the growth of subscribers/network and both data/voice services in Ncell. He also told Kathmandu Post of the simultaneous investment of Teliasonera in Ncell and Nepal Satellite both based on GSM technology, covering two different markets (Cities and Rural area). He also added that there are several places where Teliasonera has two brands in different Market. Earlier Teliasonera has acquired substantial share of Cyprus holding Company which owns 50 percent share in Nepal Satellite (Hello mobile).

Tero Kivisaari, President of Business Area Eurasia

He had also made clear of the recent swap of Ncell CEO Mr. Pasi Koistinen and Mr. Osman Turan, Teliasonera CEO from Georgia, as their regular practice of updating management in time. Ncell former CEO Pasi Koistinen had been here from the last two years.

In an question to whether the two companies (Ncell and Nepal Satellite) will be merged later to be dominant player in Nepali Telecom market, Kivasaari hinted of the possibility but only after policy change as NTA now does not permit this sort of merger. He also made his remarks that the merger will made them strong player but not dominant as the pioneer giant Nepal Telecom, a Government owned telecom company won’t opt out of the fierce competition.