- Nepal's Prime Minister directed the communication ministry to launch 5G in Kathmandu and Pokhara by Magh 2082.
- The launch aims for public access, unlike previous Nepal Telecom 5G trials limited to internal use.
- While a 5G license and spectrum haven't been awarded, the government prioritizes commercial launch.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has directed the communication ministry to start 5G in Kathmandu and Pokhara by Magh of this year (2082). The PM gave the directive during a cabinet meeting on Thursday, Shrawan 29, 2082 at Singha Durbar, Kathmandu.
The PM related to the communication minister Prithvi Subba Gurung to make necessary arrangement to bring into operation the fifth-generation cellular technology.
If it goes to plan, the long-awaited 5G in Nepal could be a reality. So far, no telecom operator including Nepal Telecom has got approval to operate 5G in Nepal.
In 2078, Nt received 60 MHz frequencies in 2600 MHz (n41) to operate its 5G trial. Accordingly, the company launched the trial of 5G on its 19th anniversary in 2079. However, it remained exclusively within the Ntc offices in Babarmahal, Sundahara, Pokhara, and Birgunj. The company cited the lack of 5G phones for bringing the much-talked-about technology to the public. But things could change for the better this time around.
However, the 5G license and 5G spectrum (band and the bandwidth) is yet to award to any telecom operator now.
Also: How to Check 4G and 5G Band Support on Your Smartphone?
5G to commence in Kathmandu and Pokhara in Magh, 2082
With the PM’s directive, it’s more than likely that 5G service would start in Magh, 2082. This time, the network will be available for public access too. This would enable smartphone users to connect their devices to 5G for the first time in Nepal.
In recent months, the talks for the launch of 5G have taken more prominence. On various occasions, Communication Minister Gurung has said that 5G would be live within FY 2082/83. The government has likewise made it one of the top priorities for the telecom industry for the 5G commercial launch.
Ntc is said to deliver up to 1 Gbps 5G speed as it had tested during its trail. Although the real-life speed could be below that, it would bring much better network performance compared to what 4G offers. Speed, consistency, and latency shall improve by a great margin on 5G. Check out: 4G vs. 5G: Differences Between Two Mobile Networks
Private telco Ncell has said in several occasions that it is also ready for 5G. However, it hasn’t received frequency from NTA and done any trial. Therefore, NTC seems more likely to bring 5G live for the public this Magh, 2082. We will keep you updated on the 5G story… do stay tuned in our website and like our Facebook page to get updates regularly.
Are you excited to use 5G on your device? Or are you skeptical about its possibilities? Do share in our comment section below.
