Mobile phone internet has become the most reliable and affordable source of the internet these days. This is also more important as people want to use the internet on the move. The growth of smartphone users is exponential, increasing both in the mobile internet user and the volume from each one of them.
Now, Mobile (cellular) internet is portable and accessible from most of the places in the country whether it is an urban or rural place. The revenues from mobile data usage have also increased dramatically over the years in Nepal. Among them, the major sources being 3G and 4G. This post we are doing the Ntc vs Ncell vs Smart Cell 4G data packs comparison.
The two main mobile phone operators have been ruling the telecom industry for a decade. Smart Cell has been in the market from 2014 but is taking longer to stand out among the telecom service providers. Now that Smart cell has launched 4G service in more areas, will it be able to beat the two existing operators in terms of coverage, price, and speed? For that, we will conclude in the end.
Here, we have compared the 4G data tariff and packages of three Telcos. First, let us have a look through the different data packages, these companies have been providing for us.
Read All the offers in Nepal Telecom for mobile and Internet packages.
Nepal Telecom 4G data packs
| Ntc 4G pack volume | 4G only volume | All network volume | Price NRs | Validity (Days) | Cost Per MB (paisa) |
| 400 MB | 280 MB | 120MB | 25 | 1 | 0.062 |
| 1 GB | 700 MB | 300 MB | 100 | 7 | 0.1 |
| 3 GB | 2100 MB | 900 MB | 240 | 28 | 0.08 |
Find all of the data packages in Ntc.
Ncell 4G data packs
| Ncell 4G pack (ALL time): All Net + 4G | Volume Night time | Price including taxes (NRs) | Validity (Day) | Price per MB |
| 35MB + 35 MB | 35MB | 11.49 | 1 | 0.164 |
| 75MB + 75 MB | 75MB | 19.15 | 1 | 0.127 |
| 120MB + 120 MB | 120MB | 37.03 | 3 | 0.154 |
| 200MB + 200 MB | 200MB | 44.69 | 3 | 0.111 |
| 300MB + 300 MB | 300MB | 88.11 | 7 | 0.146 |
| 500MB + 500 MB | 500MB | 95.77 | 7 | 0.095 |
| 1300MB + 1300 MB | 1300MB | 343.49 | 30 | 0.132 |
| 3GB + 3GB | 3GB | 453.3 | 30 | 0.075 |
Find all of the data packages in Ncell.
Smart Cell 4G data packs
| Smart Cell Data pack Volume (MB), including bonus | Price With Taxes, NRs | Validity (Day) | Cost per MB (paisa) |
| 500 + 500 =1000 | 37.03 | 1 | 0.037 |
| 1000+1000=2000 | 88.11 | 7 | 0.044 |
| 1000+1000=2000 | 113.64 | 15 | 0.056 |
| 2000+2000=4000 | 254.1 | 30 | 0.063 |
| 5000+5000=10,000 | 407.33 | 30 | 0.04 |
Find all of the offers in Smart Cell.
The data packages compared above are specially for 4G data. For Ncell and Smart Cell, the latest data packs provide a bonus of the same volume of 4G data (100%) in the same period. But for Ntc, the 4G volume is 70% of the total volume while 30% is for all networks as they would like to call it as buffer data.
What we can say from the above-mentioned data rates is that the price of the data package is decreasing significantly due to the competition. More affordable and selective packages (as per customers’ demand) are being provided to users. All operators are trying to attract customers by providing suitable and affordable data packages to the customer.
Coverage
Nepal Telecom has extended its 4G coverage to 77 districts while focusing on the major areas for now. They were supposed to complete the 4G expansion to all parts of the country by now but the COVID-19 pandemic barred them from the achievement. Ncell also has more or less the same number of 4G base stations as Ntc but they are currently available in 45 districts only. The newcomer Smart has 4G coverage in just 19 districts.
As we compared the cost of data per MB, we found Smart Cell, the new competitor in the market with its double data offer has the most affordable 4G data. Its price per MB ranges from 4 paisa to 6 paisa. Whereas for Ntc, the price is from 6 paisa to 10 paisa and that for Ncell is from 8 paisa to 16 paisa. The Smart cell 4G data tariff of 4 paisa per MB with Rs 407.33 for 10 GB data seems the most attractive one.
A verdict of comparing Ntc vs Ncell vs Smart Cell
Regarding peak speed, all of the telecom operators now use 10 MHz bandwidth in 4G so they provide more or less the same speed. But Ntc uses one more spectrum band 20 for its 4G so some handsets that support carrier aggregation can get more speed with Nepal Telecom 4G.
But for the affordability, we shall declare Smart Cell as a clear winner here. But if we check the consistent coverage and the stable speed, then it is still a long way to go for the Smart Cell. Whereas both of the telcos Ntc and Ncell have quite improved their 4G network in city areas where they have provided the service.
Highly recommended to check: Mobile data is expensive in Nepal, due to higher tax and more >>
We see a tough competition ahead between Ntc, Ncell, and Smart Cell for 4G in terms of price, speed, and reliable network coverage.
Tell us about your experience of Ntc, Ncell, and Smart Cell 4G network, in your area.
