Chaudhary Group (CG), one of the biggest business houses of Nepal (popular for electronic products and food/beverages) is all set to enter the telecom market with the brand name CG tel. After acquiring 80 percent Shares of the American company STM Telecommunication Services, CG Tel is eager to launch their services within six months. 20 percent share of STM Telecom Sanchar is owned by a Nepali company named AR Investment.
STM telecommunication has been running rural telephones in villages of about 50 districts and has the largest PCO network in Nepal under the name “Gramintel”. They are also providing services like telemedicine, international calls, and telecenters in rural areas, and have a subscriber base of about 5350 (according to NTA’s latest MIS).
STM Telecom had also applied for the unified license to NTA (Nepalese Telecommunication Authority) which if they get it, allows them to operate different telecom services through a single license, with a huge license fee of Rs 377.5 million. Though NTA is examining the applicants for the unified license, the regulatory body won’t be able to make the big decision in the absence of their Chairman (whose appointment is stayed by Supreme court) plus there is a case under scrutiny against the unified license.
Chaudhary Group was very keen on investing in the telecom sector for many years but due to the unavailability of enough frequency spectrum and huge license fee for the new operator, they were mum to wait for an amicable time. And this unified license fulfills their awaited desire and will enable them to use many telecom services like GSM, and CDMA through a single license.
