Nepal Telecom gets 4G license first

Nepal Telecommunication Authority board has decided to approve Nepal Telecom 4G request. They have even asked NT to present their roll out plan to operate 4G in the country. This means that Nepal Telecom will be the first one to launch 4G network in Nepal, if the regulator gives final approval after getting the roll-out plan. The roll-out plan shall include the process to introduce 4G along with the no of stations and locations. So it is a matter of some time that we will have Nepal Telecom 4G in the country.

With the latest frequency policy 2073, NTA has decided to give 4G license through technology neutrality for which the operators have submitted a request for approval. NTA has only decided for Nepal Telecom’s request for now. NTA will decide for Ncell’s and Smart’s request after evaluation which is underway. It could be due to the huge amount of taxes pending during Ncell buyout by Axiata that Ncell did not get the license for which the Parliaments committee had also made directives to the government and NTA.

NTA spokesperson Min Prasad Aryal confirms the approval of Nepal Telecom’s request and the letter sent to ask their roll-out plan. He said “NTA has now requested NT to submit their rollout plan for 4G and final approval be made with the condition to follow the rollout plan”.

Read also: 4G in Nepal Explained

When can we expect 4G from Nepal Telecom?

We happen to post that Nepal Telecom is readying its infrastructure to launch 4G network in the country. After getting the request from NTA, NT will be submitting their rollout plan within a week. As told earlier, NT will launch 4G with the hardware and software upgrade of their existing infrastructure, which according to them would not take more than a month.

With the technology neutrality, Nepal Telecom is launching 4G in 1800 MHz frequency band (Band 3). Now GSM technology is using that 1800 MHz frequency for 2G.  According to a telecom expert, NT needs to refarm their existing frequency spectrum to use the some part of 15 MHz bandwidth for 4G technology. Other than that, it will take more time to bring some hardware (if required) from abroad. He told us otherwise Nepal Telecom will launch it very soon.

As the news of 4G launch in Nepal came to surface, people were  waiting eagerly for the launch. Earlier we have posted news for the 4G to come this festive season. Though the approval could have been taken earlier,  the decision is taken now to approve NT’s request. If they had approved their request two months back, 4G network would be already there. Its better late than never, that Nepal launches 4G and Nepal Telecom will be the first operator to launch it.

We will keep you updated more information about 4G in Nepal. Tell us in the comment below what do you expect from Nepal Telecom 4G.